Chevron has positioned itself as the first major energy firm to formally adopt the term “Gulf of America”, in alignment with President Trump’s directive to rename the Gulf of Mexico, a key region renowned for its oil production.

In its financial report for the fourth quarter and the full year released on Friday, which fell short of investor expectations, Chevron consistently referred to its operations in the Gulf of America, omitting the traditional name of the region altogether.

Upon taking office, Trump issued several executive orders, one of which was aimed at “restoring names that honour American greatness”, mandating the new designation for the gulf to be implemented within 30 days.

Mike Wirth, CEO of Chevron, stated to Bloomberg, “That’s the official stance of the US government. If Google Maps acknowledges it, then Chevron will follow suit.”

The decision to rename highlights how Trump’s policies can challenge corporate diplomacy. Google announced it would update the name of the gulf in its systems once it officially registers in the United States Geographic Names System.

This alteration will be recognizable in the U.S., yet users accessing maps in Mexico will still see the region referred to as the Gulf of Mexico. International users will witness both names displayed. Mexico’s President Sheinbaum criticized Google’s decision to change the name.

Other major companies, including London-listed Shell and Hess, a U.S. oil firm that Chevron is set to acquire, continued to use the name Gulf of Mexico in their annual reports this week. ExxonMobil’s report issued on Friday also failed to mention the new designation.

Overall, the financial outcomes for Chevron and Exxon were mixed due to declining fuel refining margins. Chevron reported fourth-quarter earnings of $3.2 billion, a 43 per cent increase from the previous year, but did not meet Wall Street’s forecasts. In contrast, Exxon’s fourth-quarter profits were stable year-over-year yet surpassed analyst expectations.

Trump’s renaming directive claimed that the area once known as the Gulf of Mexico was “an indelible part of America”, consequently renaming it to highlight its “valuable economic resources and essential role in our nation’s economy”.

The order emphasized the fossil fuel sector, stating: “The rich geology of this region has established it as one of the world’s most significant oil and gas production areas, contributing about 14 per cent of the nation’s crude oil output, an abundant supply of natural gas, and prompting continuous advancements in technology that allow access to some of the planet’s deepest and most lucrative oil reserves.”

The Gulf of Mexico was the site of the catastrophic BP oil spill in 2010, resulting in the deaths of 11 workers aboard the Deepwater Horizon platform and the release of millions of barrels of oil into the ocean.