Google Renames Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' for US Users Amid Trade War

Google Maps has updated its application to reflect a recent order by President Donald Trump that renamed Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' for users in the United States. This change comes amid an escalating trade war with Canada, which has led both countries to impose billions of dollars in added tariffs on each other's goods.

The decision was based on Google's practice of using names assigned by the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). As a result, people using Maps in the U.S. will see 'Lake America', while those in Canada will continue to see 'Lake Ontario', and those outside of the U.S. and Canada will see both names.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded to Trump's order with a billboard-sized message on the Canadian shore: 'Lake Ontario. Now and forever.'