One of Donald Trump’s first actions as president was to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” arguing that the 1.6-million-square-kilometer area had “long been an integral asset” of the United States. However, cartographers and governments worldwide have referred to it as the Gulf of Mexico for nearly five centuries.

According to Sovereign Limits, a database that researches and maps international borders, Mexico controls 49% of the gulf’s waters (approximately 757,300 square kilometers), while the U.S. holds 46% (707,600 square kilometers). The remaining 5% (80,000 square kilometers) falls under Cuban jurisdiction.

The maritime boundaries of the gulf were formally ratified in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, meaning that the White House’s name change lacks historical or legal basis and is purely political.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has openly rejected the move, stating, “Mexico does not accept the renaming of its territory.” Meanwhile, Trump’s executive order has already impacted U.S. federal agencies responsible for mapping and geographic references, as well as major tech companies like Google, which has begun reflecting the new name in search results.

With over 2 billion monthly active users worldwide, Google Maps has become a focal point in the dispute. To appease both sides, the California-based company recently announced that American users will see the name “Gulf of America,” while Mexican users will see “Gulf of Mexico.”

The rest of the world will see both names. “While international treaties and conventions do not regulate how private mapping providers represent geographic locations, our policy is to consult multiple official sources to provide the most accurate and updated depiction of the world,” Google stated in response to a formal complaint from Sheinbaum.

Additionally, Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente has emphasized that any name change should only apply to U.S.-controlled waters. “Extending the name beyond that jurisdiction exceeds the authority of any national government or private entity,” he said, warning that Mexico will take appropriate legal action if necessary.

As a result, Mexico is considering a civil lawsuit against Google. “We are waiting for their response, but if necessary, we will take the matter to court,” confirmed Sheinbaum, who remains hopeful—though skeptical—that the company will reconsider.

The White House, meanwhile, has indefinitely banned the Associated Press from press briefings and presidential events for continuing to use “Gulf of Mexico” in its reporting. AP journalists no longer have access to the Oval Office or Air Force One. From Washington’s perspective, the name change is a de facto reality, and private institutions refusing to comply may face repercussions.

Columnist Gustavo Arellano, writing for the Los Angeles Times, has linked the controversy to deeper cultural and historical tensions. He cites Mexican-American author William Anthony Nericcio, who, in Tex[t]-Mex: Seductive Hallucinations of the ‘Mexican’ in America, explored how Hollywood and mass media have perpetuated anti-Mexican stereotypes in the U.S. According to Nericcio, the renaming of the gulf is yet another manifestation of long-standing racial and cultural discrimination against Mexico. A recent study further supports this claim, revealing that 60% of Americans hold a negative opinion of Mexico.

As tensions rise, the dispute over the Gulf of Mexico—or “Gulf of America”—has become more than just a matter of nomenclature; it has ignited a broader conversation about sovereignty, history, and the power of political influence in shaping global narratives.

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