Washington (GNP): Google has redesignated Lake Ontario as “Lake America” on maps shown to users in the United States, following President Donald Trump’s earlier announcement that he was renaming the body of water, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from Canadian officials.
Users in Canada will continue to see the lake listed as Lake Ontario, a name with Indigenous roots that has been in use since the 17th century, according to Google. The company said the change applies only to US-based Maps users and does not affect how the lake appears elsewhere.
The naming dispute comes amid escalating tensions between the United States and Canada, two longtime allies now engaged in a trade war marked by tit-for-tat tariffs. Google said it updates Maps to reflect official government sources, and that the change was made in line with the US Geographic Names Information System, the federal database responsible for geographic naming in the country.
Google clarified that Maps users in the US will see “Lake America,” those in Canada will continue seeing “Lake Ontario,” and users outside both countries will see both names displayed. Apple’s Maps app, by contrast, showed no reference to “Lake America” as of Sunday morning.
The move follows a similar decision by Trump in January 2025 to unilaterally rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, a change that Mexico has also rejected. Lake Ontario is the smallest by surface area among the five Great Lakes, which span the border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the US state of New York.
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Ontario Premier Doug Ford strongly criticised the renaming and the broader trade dispute, calling the decision absolutely backwards and comparing it to a scene from a comedy sketch show. Ford said no one would actually adopt the new name in everyday use and expressed disappointment over the direction of US-Canada relations.
Ford also warned that an escalating trade war would harm both countries but would prove especially damaging to the United States, noting that Canada remains by far the largest purchaser of American-made vehicles. He said a decline in Canadian vehicle purchases would significantly impact US auto manufacturing, given how deeply integrated the two countries’ auto industries are, including shared production of vehicle parts.
Ford further argued that tariffs imposed on Canada effectively function as a tax on American consumers, describing the policy as one of the least effective economic moves available. Responding to the criticism, Trump defended his stance on Truth Social, saying Americans want to manufacture their own vehicles and accusing Canada of taking advantage of the US for years.
Managing Editor at Global News Pakistan (GNP), with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Riphah International University, graduated with a Gold Medal. Reach out at sabahtareengnp@gmail.com
