# The "Gulf of America"? Wth? Can you just change the name of a body of water? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [January 7, 2025, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683 "2025-01-07T18:54:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/241 "2025-02-12T17:28:03Z")
Re last post, that’s because you are outside the U.S. The Associated Press is continuing with Gulf of Mexico because they only have one set of content internationally. Google can adjust regionally. And before someone says how much better the AP is than Google, the [AP is going back to Mt. McKinley](https://www.ap.org/the-definitive-source/announcements/ap-style-guidance-on-gulf-of-mexico-mount-mckinley/), because the mountain is wholly in the U.S., and the U.S.goverment thus gets to name it – even though the people there are against it: [The [majority Republican] Alaska Senate unanimously joined the state House Friday in urging President Donald Trump to reverse his decision to rename North America’s tallest peak as Mount McKinley.](https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/alaska-legislature/2025-02-07/alaska-legislature-formally-opposes-trumps-renaming-of-denali-as-mt-mckinley) While I dislike the renamings, the Secretary of the Interior can legally order the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to do this – for the U.S. federal government. Unlike a lot else going down, this one is, however obnoxious, both constitutional and minimally harmful. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/242 "2025-02-12T17:47:23Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > for the U.S. federal government. Is Google part of the US Federal Government? If Google feels compelled to use only the official names for things, I await seeing the Commonwealth of Virginia on their maps. ---
**Author:** ![arles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71c47a/32.png) [@arles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arles)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/243 "2025-02-12T17:50:45Z")
I’m not the most tech aware, I thought a lot of this blowback was on Google for changing it on Google Maps. I was going to switch over to the default map app on iOS and they are also showing it as Gulf of America. Did Apple make the change and no one is complaining? Or since Apple’s map generally sucks anyway no one uses it and so no one noticed? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/244 "2025-02-12T17:52:52Z")
In real news, Rep. Earl “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) has [submitted a bill](https://www.axios.com/2025/02/11/greenland-red-white-blueland-trump-republicans) to rename Greenland “Red, White and Blue Land”. Because the house has nothing better to do, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/245 "2025-02-12T18:21:53Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Is Google part of the US Federal Government? Google (and Apple, and the Associated Press) are doing nothing they wouldn’t do for another nation state, whether free or dictator-run, where the government made a geographical name change that lacks international recognition… ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/246 "2025-02-12T18:40:57Z")
What does Mexico call that body of water? Can we take their opinion into account? They’re a nation state too, and have just as much ownership of it. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/247 "2025-02-12T19:13:12Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > What does Mexico call that body of water? Can we take their opinion into account? They’re a nation state too, and have just as much ownership of it. [Google says that in Mexico](https://blog.google/products/maps/united-states-geographic-name-change-feb-2025/), it will still say Gulf of Mexico (if you are set for English, or other language translation) – without any qualification: > [@](#): > > The names you see in the Maps app are based on your country location, which is determined by information from your phone’s operating system (e.g., iOS and Android), including your SIM, network, and locale. If you’re using Google Maps on the web, the names are based on the region you select in your [Search settings](https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/873?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&oco=0) or your [device’s location](https://policies.google.com/technologies/location-data?hl=en-US#:~:text=How%20does%20Google%20know%20my%20location%3F), if you haven’t selected one. The slightly broader issue here is that the anti-Trump camp shouldn’t make enemies on issues where a reasonable case can be made for the action taken. Google is treating the two U.S. geographic name changes just like any comparable changes by North Korea (or they would if Google wasn’t blocked in NK). ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/248 "2025-02-12T19:37:23Z")
- deleted post - ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/249 "2025-02-12T19:42:15Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > The slightly broader issue here is that the anti-Trump camp shouldn’t make enemies on issues where a reasonable case can be made for the action taken I disagree. The name change is idiotic. The President also isn’t given sole naming authority in any law that I’m aware of, and even if he did it’s still idiotic. People and companies should resist The less pushback he gets, the more stupid shit he’ll do. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/250 "2025-02-12T19:53:05Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > anti-Trump camp shouldn’t make enemies AKA play nice with the quislings. When someone decides to be racist, you don’t have to go along with them. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/251 "2025-02-12T20:24:59Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > In real news, Rep. Earl “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) has [submitted a bill](https://www.axios.com/2025/02/11/greenland-red-white-blueland-trump-republicans) to rename Greenland “Red, White and Blue Land”. Are they serious? What’s the name of that principle when some group has gone so far off the wall that you can’t tell? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/252 "2025-02-12T21:01:48Z")
> **[Poe's law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poe%27s_law)** > > Poe's law is an adage of Internet culture which says that, without a clear indicator of the author's intent, any parodic or sarcastic expression of extreme views can be mistaken by some readers for a sincere expression of those views. > Poe's law is based on a comment written by Nathan Poe in 2005 on christianforums.com, an Internet forum on Christianity. The message was posted during a debate on creationism, where a previous poster had remarked to another user: "Good thing you included the wi... ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/253 "2025-02-12T22:30:59Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > The President also isn’t given sole naming authority in any law that I’m aware of . . . True. Doug Burgum, the Secretary of thr Interior, could have theoretically defied Trump. However, Trump could, and probably, would, have fired him. And it is unlikely a court challenge would get him his job back. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/254 "2025-02-12T22:33:04Z")
There are worse things in life than being fired for having a backbone. Ask former Secretary of State Tillerman ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/255 "2025-02-12T22:53:36Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > When someone decides to be racist, you don’t have to go along with them. True. While renaming the Gulf is a completely undeserved insult to Mexico, I suspect it is a mildly popular move, and I think calling it racist is incorrect. If there was a Gulf of Canada bordering the U.S. and Canada, Trump would have renamed that also (Gulf of United States?). I think the case for renaming Fort Liberty being racist is stronger. The claim that the world’s largest (or highest population) military base is now really named for Pfc. Roland Bragg is obvious nonsense. As for renaming Denali, that’s unpopular in Alaska. The Alaska Senate voted unanimously to keep the name the same. Mention that. But Trump really likes Pres. McKinley. I think that if you use the word racist when in such borderline cases, you weaken the word and turn off some centrists. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/256 "2025-02-12T23:02:02Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > [Poe's law - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poe%27s_law) That’s it. I couldn’t think of the name. ETA: except that what I was thinking was maybe something like the converse: that people are saying in all seriousness things that most people would assume to be satire. (Or, at least, would have not all that long ago.) ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/257 "2025-02-12T23:23:08Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > If there was a Gulf of Canada bordering the U.S. and Canada, Trump would have renamed that also (Gulf of United States?). Lake Ontario watch out. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/258 "2025-02-12T23:28:04Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > While renaming the Gulf is a completely undeserved insult to Mexico, I suspect it is a mildly popular move, and I think calling it racist is incorrect No one before Trump ever floated this idea. Trump doesn’t like Mexico or Mexicans. I’ll connect the dots. But, sure, we could simply call it insane. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/259 "2025-02-13T10:58:32Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Mexico, I suspect it is a mildly popular move, and I think calling it racist is incorrect. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that his campaign stated that Latino immigrants were vermin poisoning the blood of our country. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/260 "2025-02-13T11:09:02Z")
An “I Wish It Were” Onion headline: “Justin Trudeau Proclaims Gulf of Mexico Is Now Gulf of Canada.” Why not? Plenty of Canadians vacation there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683.md?page=14)