Published by DBUNK
A fact check request was submitted by one of our subscribers to verify claims that Apple, Google, and Microsoft renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America based on an order from former President Donald Trump. If you come across questionable news and want clarity, you can also submit fact check requests for free.
Assessing the Claim
The article from the Associated Press, published on February 12, 2025, claims that Apple updated its maps to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America after an order from Donald Trump was made official. The report further states that Google and Microsoft followed suit after the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) made the name change official.
What’s True?
The U.S. Geographic Names Information System, managed by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, is responsible for standardizing geographic names for federal use. If a formal name change were officially approved and entered into the GNIS database, federal agencies would be expected to use it. However, private companies are under no legal obligation to adopt such changes.
Google and Apple maps do at times follow government naming conventions, but the process is neither immediate nor mandatory. Additionally, any sweeping renaming of a body of water as significant as the Gulf of Mexico would receive intense scrutiny and widespread media coverage.
What’s False?
There is no verifiable record of the U.S. Geographic Names Information System actually approving or listing “Gulf of America” as a new name for the Gulf of Mexico. A review of the official GNIS database does not show any update reflecting the alleged change.
Furthermore, Apple has not issued any announcements regarding such a change. Publicly available versions of Apple Maps, as well as historical archived versions, still label the large body of water as the Gulf of Mexico. No visible rollout of the proposed renaming has been observed on Google or Microsoft maps either.
Where Did This Misinformation Come From?
The claim appears to have emerged from social media speculation and political commentary with no verified governmental or corporate confirmation. While the idea of a government-ordered renaming is controversial and intriguing, the evidence does not support that Apple, Google, or Microsoft actually applied these changes.
Who Benefits from Spreading This Falsehood?
Altering place names can be politically and commercially motivated. However, in this case, the narrative seems designed to provoke reactions rather than convey real policy shifts. The widespread sharing of unverified claims about a supposed name change fuels political divisions and misinformation.
Final Verdict: False
There is no legitimate evidence that Apple, Google, or Microsoft renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The supposed change does not appear in official geographic naming records, and company maps do not reflect this update.
To avoid falling for viral misinformation, always verify claims from official sources before sharing. Keep yourself informed and fact-check questionable stories with DBUNK.
