Mexico takes Google to court over Gulf of Mexico naming dispute

By ramontomeydw // 2025-05-13

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The Mexican government filed a lawsuit against Google for renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on Google Maps, arguing the U.S. lacks unilateral authority to alter an internationally recognized name.
The U.S. House approved a bill formalizing the renaming on federal documents, following an executive order by President Trump, who claimed the U.S. "does most of the work" in the gulf.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum clarified that Trump's order applies only to the U.S. continental shelf, not the entire gulf, and criticized Google for ignoring Mexico's objections.
Google defended its compliance with government-mandated updates, while the Associated Press refused to adopt the new name, leading to temporary White House access restrictions for its reporters.
Similar disputes arose over the Persian Gulf, with Trump reportedly planning to rename it the Arabian Gulf, angering Iran. Analysts see these moves as attempts to strengthen alliances but risk inflaming international relations.

The Mexican government has taken legal action against search engine giant Google over its renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on Google Maps. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the lawsuit against the Big Tech company, albeit refusing to disclose where it was filed. She asserted that Washington lacks the authority to unilaterally rename an internationally recognized geographic feature. The lawsuit came amid the U.S. House of Representatives approving a bill making the name change official on all federal documents. The lower chamber of the U.S. legislature voted to approve the proposal on May 8. The bill served to formalize an executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the name change to the body of water shared by the U.S., Cuba and Mexico. The real estate mogul argued that the change was justified as Americans "do most of the work there, and it's ours." However, Sheinbaum contended that the order applies only to the U.S. portion of the continental shelf, not the entire body of water shared with Mexico and Cuba. "All we want is for the decree issued by the U.S. government to be complied with," she said. The Mexican leader pointed to the tech giant's refusal to heed requests not to implement the gulf's new name for American users of Google Maps. Meanwhile, Google defended its stance on the matter, citing a "longstanding practice" of following government-mandated name updates. But the tech giant wasn't the only one that landed in hot water over the naming dispute. The Associated Press refused to adopt the new terminology, drawing the ire of the second Trump administration. Reporters from the agency found themselves barred from accessing White House events, until a federal judge stepped in.

From Mexico to the Middle East: Another gulf naming dispute

The dispute between Washington and Mexico City over the gulf's name mirrors a similar flashpoint in the Middle East. The Guardian reported on Wednesday, May 7, that Trump reportedly plans to relabel the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf during a visit to Saudi Arabia. The real estate mogul's plans, which threaten to derail delicate nuclear talks, drew sharp condemnation from Iran. Abbas Araghchi, the Islamic republic's foreign minister, warned that the "absurd" move "bring the wrath of all Iranians." He continued: "Politically motivated attempts to alter the historically established name of the Persian Gulf are indicative of hostile intent toward Iran and its people." The term "Persian Gulf" dates back to ancient times, while Arab nations have long advocated for alternative names. Historical tensions over the gulf's name are not new, however. In 2012, Tehran threatened legal action against Google for omitting the Persian Gulf label entirely from its maps. Analysts suggest Trump's latest move is aimed at currying favor with Arab allies, particularly in negotiations involving Israel. European diplomats meanwhile expressed fear the decision could harden Iranian opposition to nuclear talks, with one warning that Trump would "unite every Iranian, pro- or anti-regime, against him." (Related: Trump readies for high-stakes direct nuclear talks with Iran: "Great danger" looms if negotiations fail.) Washington's push to rename the two bodies of water has escalated into a legal and diplomatic dispute, with the broader implications of renaming sovereign waters remaining contentious. Whether driven by nationalism, strategic alliances, or corporate compliance, these disputes underscore how deeply geography is intertwined with identity and power – and how easily cartographic changes can inflame international relations. SearchEngine.news has more stories about Google. Watch Alex Jones of InfoWars commenting on President Trump's announcement to rename the Gulf of Mexico in this clip. This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

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From Mexico to the Middle East: Another gulf naming dispute

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