Google Maps Renames Lake Ontario in US Amid Trump-Canada Trade Tensions

Google Maps has sparked controversy by renaming Lake Ontario 'Lake America' in the United States. The change is in line with President Donald Trump's announcement, but it does not affect Canada, where the lake will continue to be labeled as 'Lake Ontario', its Indigenous-rooted name used since the 17th century.

According to Google, the change reflects updates from the US Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), which is the official federal database for geographic names. This means that people in the United States will see 'Lake America' on their devices and computers, while those in Canada will still see the original name.

The move mirrors Trump's previous unilateral alteration of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, a change also rejected by Mexico.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford criticized the decision, calling it 'absolutely backwards' and saying that no one would call the lake 'Lake America'. He warned that a trade war between Canada and the US would be devastating for both countries, with the US likely to be hit harder due to Canada's significant purchases of US vehicles.