Trump's Executive Order Renames Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' in Google Maps

Google Maps has updated its display to show Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' for U.S. users following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on August 27.

The order, aimed at asserting American influence over shared landmarks amid escalating trade tensions with Canada, also renamed the lake for federal use.

According to the order, the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) was updated to reflect this change, and Google Maps, which relies on official government sources like GNIS, has followed suit. However, the change will only affect users in the United States, while Canadians will continue to see 'Lake Ontario', and the rest of the world will see both names.

The move comes after trade negotiations between the U.S. and Canada broke down, leading to new tariffs. President Trump stated that the renaming was not a direct message to Canada but part of a broader strategy to assert American influence over shared landmarks.