Google Maps Reflects Lake Ontario Name Change to 'Lake America' for US Users
Google Maps has reflected President Donald Trump's executive order renaming 'Lake Ontario' to 'Lake America' for US users. This change was made in accordance with the US Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), which sets standards for official US maps.
The decision is part of an escalating trade feud between the US and Canada, with both countries imposing reciprocal tariffs on billions of dollars in goods. Trump's order affects only US naming conventions and does not impact Canadian or international references to the lake.
Critics of the name change include Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who unveiled a lakeside sign reading 'Lake Ontario: Now and Always' in both English and French. Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul of New York has also rejected the name change, saying 'New York won't be calling it that.'