AP Sticks to Gulf of Mexico But Will Call Denali Mount McKinley

US President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office of the WHite House in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025. (Photo by Jim WATSON / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Gulf of America is out, but Mount McKinley is in.

The Associated Press announced Thursday that it would stick to using Gulf of Mexico despite President Donald Trump’s order renaming the waterway to the Gulf of America.

“Trump’s order only carries authority within the United States,” the AP said in a statement. “As a global news agency that disseminates news around the world, the AP must ensure that place names and geography are easily recognizable to all audiences.”

While the news service said it would still acknowledge the Trump-given title, it will mainly keep using the name that the gulf has carried “for more than 400 years.”

The Alaskan mountain Denali, however, will be referred to as Mount McKinley in future AP reports.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The area lies solely in the United States and as president, Trump has the authority to change federal geographical names within the country,” the AP said.

Former President Barack Obama renamed North America’s tallest peak to Denali, its Native Alaskan name, in 2015 to reflect the tradition and preference of many Alaska residents.

Shortly after returning to office on Monday, Trump signed an executive order renaming the mountain back to Mount McKinley to “restore the name of a great president, William McKinley.”

The AP Stylebook, a style guide used by many news organizations worldwide, will be updated to reflect the agency’s latest decisions.

“The AP regularly reviews its style guidance regarding name changes, in part to ensure its guidance reflects common usage,” it said. “We’ll continue to apply that approach to this guidance and make updates as needed.”

MAGA firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene earlier vowed to force other countries to use Trump’s Gulf of America title after the United Kingdom said it would continue using Gulf of Mexico on British maps.