In an unusual move, Google has updated its maps application to refer to Lake Ontario as “Lake America” for users in the United States. This change follows a recent order from former President Donald Trump, who made headlines with this controversial decision.
This update was announced just a few days after Trump’s order, which seems to be part of a larger trade dispute between the United States and Canada. Both countries have been imposing tariffs on each other’s goods, making the relationship quite tense.
Google’s decision to change the name reflects its policy of using names from the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). According to Google, users in the U.S. will see “Lake America,” while those in Canada will continue to see “Lake Ontario.” Meanwhile, users outside of the U.S. and Canada will be shown both names.
This isn’t the first time Google has made such a change. Back in 2025, the company renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America for users in the U.S., following another directive from Trump.
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The reaction to Trump’s order has been mixed, with many people in both Canada and the U.S. responding with indifference or humor. Ontario Premier Doug Ford even took to the Canadian shore to display a bold message: “Lake Ontario. Now and forever,” serving as a reminder of the lake’s original name.
As of now, neither the White House nor Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ford’s office, have commented on Google’s decision regarding the name change.
Google, known for its powerful search engine and digital advertising, is based in Mountain View, California, and is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. Its influence in the digital world makes such updates significant, particularly in how geographical names are perceived and used in global contexts.
