‘Stand for Truth’: Gulf of Mexico Map Stirs Controversy in Crowdfunding Bid

'Stand for Truth': Gulf of Mexico Map Stirs Controversy in Crowdfunding Bid

What’s in a name? How much does changing the name of a body of water really matter?

These are the questions that irked U.S.-based cartographer Michael Hermann when President Donald Trump

, he received lots of support — and also quite a bit of vitriol. One person called the project “an exhibition of pure stupidity,” while another labeled Purple Lizard a “liberal company that doesn’t want to sell” to conservatives.

“It's the Gulf of America now, dips—t,” another user commented. “Your types aren't wanted in America anymore. 77 million Americans said so. Bye bye, traitor.”

For Hermann, the pushback is more interesting than worrisome.

“The idea of this map is threatening to certain people in the population, and I find that fascinating,” he said. “When we did a map of Shenandoah National Park, we never got pushback about what we were doing. Nobody came at us with obscenities.” 

An atlas devoted to Maine created by Purple Lizard Maps; (photo/Purple Lizard Maps)

Future of Project Uncertain

Ultimately, Hermann doesn’t know if the Kickstarter will get funded. He still has 23 days to go, but only about $12,000 of his $65,000 goal. It’s the kind of project that could normally get funded through academic institutions. But with Trump punishing universities that don’t agree with him, that option doesn’t seem viable, Hermann said.

Moreover, Trump’s name changes aren’t likely to end with the Gulf of Mexico and Denali. In his initial executive order, Trump mentioned the 250th anniversary of the U.S. in 2026 as another opportunity for “restoring names that honor American greatness.”

For Hermann, Trump’s insistence on renaming geographies has a “symbolic power” that “sets the stage for a distorted truth.” 

“Purple Lizard Maps doesn't have the ability to fight for due process, or for international students having their green cards revoked just because they're international students,” Hermann said. “Making a map is something we can do. For many people, this seems unimportant compared to other things. But we're cartographers. This is what we do.”

Early-bird pricing for Purple Lizard’s Gulf of Mexico map starts at $29.

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Source: 'Stand for Truth': Gulf of Mexico Map Stirs Controversy in Crowdfunding Bid