Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has once again criticized Google following its compliance with a U.S. executive order issued by President Donald Trump concerning the Gulf of Mexico.
Shortly after beginning his second term, President Trump signed various executive orders, including one aimed at renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the ‘Gulf of America’ as part of a broader initiative to restore ‘names that honor American greatness’.
Google’s adherence to this name change has sparked ongoing criticism from Mexico’s President Sheinbaum.
During a press conference, Sheinbaum jokingly suggested that the United States itself might be due for a name change, referencing a historical map of the Americas from 1607. She remarked: “The United Nations recognizes the name Gulf of Mexico, but next, why don’t we call it Mexican America? It sounds nice doesn’t it?
“Since 1607, the constitution of Apatzingan was Mexican America. So, let’s call it Mexican America?”
In correspondence with Google, Sheinbaum contested the name change, as reported by USA Today, asserting: “If a country wants to change the designation of something in the sea, it would only apply up to 12 nautical miles. It cannot apply to the rest, in this case, the Gulf of Mexico. This is what we explained in detail to Google.”
Returning to her jest about renaming the US ‘Mexican America’, Sheinbaum reportedly urged Google: “We ask that when you put Mexican America in the search engine, the map appears that we presented.”
Yet, her tone turned serious during a press briefing on February 17, where she announced Mexico’s intention to take legal action if Google does not adjust the ‘Gulf of America’ label to only apply to the U.S.-controlled section, which is approximately ’22 nautical miles’, rather than the ‘entire gulf,’ as reported by Business Insider via KGOU.
The Mexican government’s letter to Google states: “Any reference to the ‘Gulf of America’ initiative on your Google Maps platform must be exclusively limited to the marine area under US jurisdiction.
“Any extension beyond that zone exceeds the authority of any national government or private entity. Should that be the case, the Government of Mexico will take the appropriate legal actions as deemed necessary.”
UNILAD has reached out to Google for a statement.
Trump’s directive advocated for renaming the Gulf of Mexico to ‘Gulf of America’, declaring it ‘an integral asset to our once burgeoning Nation and has remained an indelible part of America’ and ‘a crucial artery for America’s early trade and global commerce’.
Highlighting its ‘remarkable body of water’ and its ‘natural resources and wildlife’, Trump emphasized how it ‘will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping America’s future and the global economy,’ and directed that the Gulf be ‘officially renamed’ the Gulf of America.
Google announced its compliance with Trump’s order to rename the Gulf, though the label shown to users varies based on their location; ‘Maps users see their official local name’ while ‘everyone in the rest of the world sees both names’.