Google Maps renames Lake Ontario 'Lake America' for US users after Trump announcement

Canadian users will continue to see "Lake Ontario," the Indigenous-rooted name used since the 17th century. Google stated that the change aligns with the US Geographic Names Information System GNIS, the official federal database for geographic names. The company indicated that people outside the US and Canada will see both names.

This change mirrors Trump’s earlier alteration of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in January 2025, a move Mexico rejected. Ontario Premier Doug Ford criticized the name change and the ongoing trade dispute, calling it "absolutely backwards" and stating that a trade war would be devastating for the US, particularly its auto industry. Trump responded on Truth Social, asserting that Americans "want to make our own cars" and accusing Canada of "ripping us off for years."