Google Maps Renames Lake Ontario to ‘Lake America’ Following Trump Order

Google Maps has officially changed the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America following a directive from the Trump administration. The update, which appeared on the platform this past Saturday, comes just two days after the president signed Executive Order 14172, titled “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness,” which authorized the renaming of the Great Lake amid an ongoing trade dispute with Canada.

While the executive order originally stipulated a 30-day window for the transition, Google’s rapid implementation caught many by surprise. The change has drawn sharp criticism from Canadian officials, environmental advocates, and residents who rely on the traditional geography of the region. Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed his frustration with the decision, calling the move “absolutely backwards” and comparing the executive order to a sketch from Saturday Night Live.

In a statement regarding the update, Google clarified that the change was prompted by official government data. “The U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) has formally changed the name for ‘Lake Ontario’ to ‘Lake America’ in the United States,” the company explained. “Since we update Google Maps to reflect name changes in official government sources, people using Maps in the U.S. will see ‘Lake America,’ while those in Canada will continue to see ‘Lake Ontario.'”

The administration’s push for the renaming was spearheaded by Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, who signed a follow-up order demanding that the change be implemented “effective immediately.” This marks the second instance of a government-mandated name change for a major body of water under the current administration, following the rebranding of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

As of now, the discrepancy remains localized. While Google Maps has complied with the federal mandate for U.S. users, other platforms, including Apple Maps, continue to display the traditional name. For international users outside of North America, the platform is currently displaying both names to avoid confusion as the geopolitical tension surrounding the trade war continues to manifest in domestic policy.