Google Maps Renames Lake Ontario to Lake America Following Trump Executive Order

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on August 27 renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America. This move is described by some as a symbolic retaliation in an ongoing trade war with Canada. The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) has updated its records to reflect the new name, and the U.S. Department of the Interior issued an immediate order to implement the change across federal agencies, contracts, and maps. Google Maps has already implemented the change for users based in the United States. Canadian users continue to see the name Lake Ontario, while users in the rest of the world see both names. Google stated that this follows its long standing policy of reflecting official government sources. The U.S. Interior Secretary indicated that Apple may soon change the name on its maps following discussions with the president. Other mapping services have responded differently; MapQuest has stated it will not change the display and instead launched a name generator for the lake. In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that her administration will not apply the change. In Canada, Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded by placing a sign on the shores of the lake that reads Lake Ontario. Now and Always. Ford stated that the lake would still be called Lake Ontario long after Trump has left office. In response, Trump posted an AI generated video on Truth Social showing himself kicking the sign and replacing the text with Lake America to the song YMCA. The lake is jointly managed by Canada and the United States under the Boundary Waters Treaty established in the early 20th century.