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By Theo Burman
Live News Reporter
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President Donald Trump's pledge to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America is yet to be followed by major map providers.
Trump signed an executive order yesterday that directed federal agencies to use the new name, but private sector maps have not yet adopted the change, with the body of water continuing to be labeled the Gulf of Mexico.
Newsweek contacted the White House for more information on the policy via email.
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Why It Matters
The renaming of the Gulf of Mexico was one of the first decisions that Trump made on entering the White House.
It symbolizes his "America First" approach to foreign policy, and the way that different tech companies react to it will be key in telling how Trump's relationship with big tech will look over the next for years.
What To Know
Federal agencies have been given 30 days to begin updating the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on official documents and copy, in line with Trump's executive order.
However, the order does not extend to state governments or private companies, meaning there is no nationwide mandate to switch to the new terminology.
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However, Florida has become the first state government to begin following Trump's policy regardless, with statements from Governor Ron DeSantis already using the term "Gulf of America" to highlight extreme weather conditions in the region.
These changes have not yet been made by companies like Apple and Google, which run some of the most widely-used map services in the world. At time of writing, both Apple Maps and Google Maps still display the body of water as the "Gulf of Mexico."
Many viewers on social media ridiculed the change, with tech influencer Andrew Chen writing on X (formerly Twitter): "I think Gulf of America isn't official until Google Maps and Apple Maps make the change! Waiting..."
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also appeared to find the change funny. Trump's first presidential opponent was pictured laughing at Trump's inauguration when Trump announced the name change.
What People Are Saying
Conservative journalist Jack Posobiec highlighted the lack of change on social media, posting to X: "Attention Google, this needs to be updated" along with a picture of the Gulf of Mexico on Google Maps.
During his inauguration speech on Monday, President Donald Trump said: "A short time from now, we are going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America."
What Happens Next
Federal agencies have been given one month to begin updating documents and maps with the new name. Additionally, state governments may continue to adopt the change, following in Florida's footsteps.
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