Mexico has filed a lawsuit against Google for labeling the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” on Google Maps for U.S. users, following an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump in January 2025.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the lawsuit on May 9, 2025, arguing that the name change violates Mexico’s sovereignty by applying to maritime areas under Mexican and Cuban control, not just the U.S. continental shelf, which is the limit of Trump’s decree.
The Gulf of Mexico, a name used for over 400 years and recognized by the United Nations, remains unchanged for Mexican users, while global users see “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America).” Sheinbaum did not specify where the lawsuit was filed, and Google has not publicly responded. The dispute coincides with tensions over trade and security between the U.S. and Mexico.
The controversy stems from an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump, signed on January 20, 2025, renaming the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America”. Google implemented this change for U.S. users, while keeping “Gulf of Mexico” for Mexican users and showing both names elsewhere.
Mexico contends that the U.S. order only applies to its 46% share of the gulf, not the 49% under Mexican control or the 5% under Cuba’s, arguing it violates their sovereignty.As of May 10, 2025, Google has not publicly responded, and the lawsuit’s legal proceedings are ongoing, with potential implications for international relations and map naming conventions.
