Google Maps Reflects Trump's Executive Order with Lake Name Change

Google Maps has updated its naming conventions for 'Lake Ontario' to reflect President Donald Trump's executive order renaming it 'Lake America'. The change only affects US users, while those in Canada and elsewhere will continue to see the lake's original name.

The decision was made after Trump announced that he would be changing the name of the smallest of the five Great Lakes as part of an escalating trade feud with Canada. The two countries have imposed reciprocal tariffs on billions of dollars in goods, prompting a response from Trump.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford immediately rejected the lake's new name and unveiled a large lakeside sign that reads 'Lake Ontario: Now and Always' to reaffirm the lake's original identity. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul of New York declared that 'New York won't be calling it that', while Republican Governor Phil Scott of Vermont called Trump's decision 'petty and disappointing'.

Google stated that they update their maps to reflect name changes in official government sources, which includes the US Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). This change is similar to a previous one made to the Gulf of Mexico last year after Trump's executive order renaming it.