WASHINGTON — Google Maps now displays “Lake America” instead of Lake Ontario for users in the United States after President Donald Trump ordered the name change, while Canadian officials continued to use the lake’s traditional name.
Google said Sunday that users in Canada will continue to see “Lake Ontario,” while users outside the United States and Canada will see both names.
The company said it updated its maps to reflect changes in the U.S. Geographic Names Information System, the federal database that serves as the official source for geographic names in the United States.
“Since we update Google Maps to reflect name changes in official government sources, which is GNIS for the US, people using Maps in the US will see ‘Lake America,’ those in Canada will continue to see ‘Lake Ontario,’ and those outside of the US and Canada will see both names,” Google said.
The change adds another point of tension between the United States and Canada as the two countries face an escalating trade dispute involving tariffs on each other’s goods.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford criticized the renaming, calling it “absolutely backwards” and saying Canadians would continue to call the lake Lake Ontario.
“No one’s going to call it Lake of America,” Ford said during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week.”
The lake, one of North America’s five Great Lakes, borders Ontario and New York. It is the smallest of the five Great Lakes by surface area.
Trump also renewed criticism of Canada’s auto industry Sunday, saying he did not want Canadian vehicles or parts entering the United States.
The two countries have deeply integrated auto manufacturing operations, with Canadian-made components used in vehicles assembled in the United States.
Trump has threatened to increase tariffs on Canadian auto parts to 50%. Canada has imposed retaliatory tariffs ranging from 15% to 50% on U.S. goods.
Ford warned that a prolonged trade conflict could hurt industries in both countries, particularly the U.S. auto sector.
Apple’s Maps app continued to display “Lake Ontario” for U.S. users as of Sunday.
The dispute follows Trump’s January 2025 order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” a change that Mexico has rejected.
