Mexico’s president urges Google to reject Trump’s push to rename Gulf of Mexico

Jan 31

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Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Kalé Carey (Reporter)

Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, is standing firm against an executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump, which called for renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.” This week, however, Google announced it will comply with the directive when Americans use its navigation app.

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Sheinbaum argues name change violates law

In response to the name change, Sheinbaum sent a letter to Google, calling the decision a violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas. She said that, per the law, Mexico and Cuba share the Gulf with the United States, and each nation’s territorial waters extend only 12 nautical miles from shore, after which their authority diminishes.

Google said that, as a company, it follows official government decisions regarding name changes. The tech giant explained that users would see different names depending on their location. In the U.S. and other regions, users will see “Gulf of America,” while Mexican users will continue to see “Gulf of Mexico.”

Trump’s executive order

On the first day of his presidency, Trump signed an executive order calling the Gulf of Mexico a “crucial artery for America’s early trade and global commerce” and argued it should be renamed to honor U.S. history. The order also instructed the U.S. Interior Secretary to finalize the name change within 30 days of the order.

Tags: Cuba, Donald Trump, Executive Order, Google, Gulf of Mexico, Mexico

MEXICO’S PRESIDENT ISN’T READY TO COMPLY WITH TRUMP’S ORDER TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE GULF OF MEXICO.

BUT THIS WEEK, GOOGLE ANNOUNCED THAT WHEN AMERICANS USE ITS NAVIGATION APP, THE BODY OF WATER, WILL NOW SHOW UP AS THE GULF OF AMERICA.

[TAKE VO]

PRESIDENT CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM SENT A LETTER TO GOOGLE, CALLING THE DECISION A VIOLATION OF THE LAW.

[Lauren Taylor]

SHE ARGUED THAT BOTH CUBA AND MEXICO SHARE THE GULF WITH THE U.S., AND THAT EACH NATION’S TERRITORY EXTENDS ONLY 12 NAUTICAL MILES FROM SHORE—AFTER WHICH THEIR AUTHORITY BEGINS TO FADE.

GOOGLE SAYS, AS A COMPANY, NAME CHANGES BY OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT SOURCES ARE ALWAYS FOLLOWED.

THEY TOLD THE MEXICAN PRESIDENT, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE IS WHAT NAME YOU’LL SEE.

IN THE U-S AND OTHER PLACES, GOOGLE USERS WILL SEE GULF OF AMERICA WHILE MEXICO WILL SEE ITS ORIGINAL NAME AS SOON AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAKES THE SWITCH.

ON HIS FIRST DAY IN OFFICE, TRUMP SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER DECLARING THE BODY OF WATER A ‘CRUCIAL ARTERY FOR AMERICA’S EARLY TRADE AND GLOBAL COMMERCE,’ CALLING FOR ITS RENAMING TO HONOR THE COUNTRY’S HISTORY

THE U-S INTERIOR SECRETARY IS ORDERED TO MAKE THE CHANGE WITHIN 30 DAYS.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.