Google has updated the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America on its maps for users in the United States following an order from US President Donald Trump. The change is part of a broader response to escalating trade tensions with Canada. According to a statement from Google on Saturday, the name will remain Lake Ontario for Canadian users, and both names will be visible to users outside the US and Canada. This decision aligns with the US Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) directive.
Users in the US began reporting the name change on Sunday. Google previously implemented a similar change when Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America last year. Apple Maps, however, continues to display the lake as Lake Ontario for US users as of Sunday.
The Trump administration announced the name change on Thursday, which affects the lake located between Ontario, Canada, and New York, USA. This action is perceived as a retaliatory measure against Canada amid ongoing trade disputes, including the imposition of 50 percent tariffs on certain Canadian goods by Trump earlier this month, to which Canada responded with its own tariffs.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney referenced the Indigenous origins of the name Ontario in a social media post, emphasizing its historical significance. He noted that the name, derived from the Wendat word Ontari’io, means 'the lake is beautiful, the lake is big' and has been in use for over 400 years.
Carney stated that despite changes in trade relationships and foreign policy, the lake should continue to be referred to as Lake Ontario. In response to the name change, Ontario Premier Doug Ford remarked that it was an absurd decision and asserted that the lake would always be known as Lake Ontario.
The name change has drawn criticism, with opponents arguing that it distracts from more pressing national issues, such as the rising cost of living. Trump has shared various social media posts regarding the name change, including an AI-generated video that humorously depicts Canadian geese with his hairstyle.
The ongoing trade tensions between the US and Canada have been marked by Trump's use of tariffs to address perceived trade imbalances, with Canada being a significant trading partner historically. Trump has also questioned Canada's sovereignty in previous statements, referring to its Prime Minister as a governor, implying a lack of independence.
Carney, who succeeded Trudeau in March 2025, has focused on countering Trump's policies and assisting Canada in navigating its evolving relationship with the US.