Trump-Ordered Rename Hits Google Maps: 'Lake America' Now Displayed in US
Google Maps has begun displaying 'Lake America' in place of Lake Ontario for users in the United States, following an executive order from President Donald Trump. The change is now rolling out on Google Maps after the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) updated the lake's name. According to Google, this update reflects their long-standing policy of displaying names that vary by country.
The decision comes amid escalating trade tensions between Washington and Ottawa. Trump signed an executive order last Thursday directing the Interior Department to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America in the United States. He described the lake as 'a flourishing economic resource' and a critical part of the nation's economy.
The update affects only users in the U.S., while those in Canada will continue to see 'Lake Ontario' on Google Maps, and users outside North America may see both names. The change has been highlighted by White House communications director Steven Cheung, who tweeted that 'LAKE AMERICA on Google Maps is officially it!'