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NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedAugust 30, 2026Miami-Dade

Google Maps renames Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' for U.S. users following presidential order

Google has updated its mapping service to display Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' for users within the United States, complying with a recent executive order from President Donald Trump. The change is part of a broader policy to align with the U.S. Geographic Names Information System amid ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada.

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Why It Matters

The name change affects how U.S. residents view and interact with digital maps of the Great Lakes region, reflecting a shift in official U.S. geographic naming conventions during a period of international trade disputes.

Key Facts

  • President Trump issued an order to rename Lake Ontario to 'Lake America'.
  • Google updated its Maps application to reflect the name 'Lake America' for users located in the United States.
  • Users in Canada will continue to see the name 'Lake Ontario' on Google Maps.
  • Users outside of the U.S. and Canada will see both names displayed.
  • The change follows a similar 2025 renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of America'.
  • Google states the update aligns with its policy of using names from the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
  • Ontario Premier Doug Ford publicly rejected the name change via a billboard on the Canadian shore.
  • The renaming occurs during an escalating trade war involving billions of dollars in tariffs between the U.S. and Canada.

Who's Mentioned

organizationGoogle“Technology company that updated its maps application.”personMark Carney“Canadian Prime Minister.”organizationU.S. Geographic Names Information System“The database Google uses to determine official geographic names.”organizationAlphabet Inc.“Parent company of Google.”personDoug Ford“Ontario Premier who publicly opposed the name change.”personDonald Trump“President of the United States who issued the renaming order.”