President Donald Trump has taken decisive steps to assert American identity on the world’s maps. In August, he signed an executive order directing federal agencies to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America,” and earlier this year he renamed the Gulf of Mexico “Gulf of America.” The moves, framed as a response to ongoing tariff policy disputes with Canada, aim to reinforce national pride and remind citizens that America’s natural landmarks belong to the United States.
Federal agencies comply, tech firms split
Following the order, major platforms such as Google and Apple updated their U.S. map displays to reflect the new names for American users. MapQuest, however, declined to make the change, and Canadian mapping services have left the traditional names untouched, underscoring the cross‑border nature of the naming controversy.
UN vote highlights map bias
Earlier this month, the United Nations General Assembly voted 164‑1‑6 to endorse a new world map projection that more accurately portrays the African continent’s size. The vote, opposed only by the United States, reflects growing international awareness that traditional map projections, such as the Mercator, distort the relative scale of land masses, making Africa appear smaller than it truly is.
“When maps shape how we think about places and peoples, they also shape our politics,” said Alex Moulton, an assistant professor of geography and environmental science at Hunter College. “Distortions can have real economic and political consequences.”
Why the changes matter
Critics argue that renaming bodies of water is merely symbolic, but the Trump administration emphasizes the importance of national symbols in fostering unity. By replacing foreign‑derived names with “America” designations, the administration seeks to remind citizens of the nation’s sovereignty and to counter perceived foreign influence in everyday life.
Supporters of the new UN‑approved map echo similar concerns. “If you view Africa as a tiny land mass, you may underestimate its economic potential and political significance,” noted Nerve Macaspac, a political geographer at Queens College. “A more accurate visual representation can encourage fairer trade and diplomatic engagement.”
Historical context of mapmaking
Mapmakers have always made choices about which distortions to allow based on a map’s purpose. The centuries‑old Mercator projection, designed for navigation, inflates regions near the poles—making Greenland appear larger than Africa, even though Africa’s land area is roughly fourteen times greater.
“Map‑making is world‑making,” Moulton added. “It reflects the cartographer’s worldview at a particular moment in history.” This perspective aligns with the Trump administration’s view that contemporary maps should reflect American values and sovereignty.
Local reactions
Across the country, reactions have been mixed. Some community leaders praise the renaming as a bold affirmation of patriotism, while others question the practical impact of changing long‑standing geographic names. In Charlotte, North Carolina, Tony Rodono, owner of The Map Shop, observed that maps serve as “time capsules” of how societies view the world, and that updates can spark important conversations about identity.
Regardless of differing opinions, the administration’s actions underscore a broader commitment to ensuring that national symbols—whether on a flag, a coin, or a map—reflect the United States’ enduring values and constitutional heritage.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
