Lake Ontario is now 'Lake America' on Google Maps, but not for everyone

Last week, US President Donald Trump signed executive orders to officially rename Lake Ontario “Lake America,” his second re-christening, so to speak, of a body of water after the Gulf of Mexico. Following these official orders, Google Maps has started showing the name of the body of water bordering both the US and Canada.

In an official announcement, Google noted it will start showing the lake’s new official name, as designated by the US Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). It said the official name change will appear on Google Maps, but only for people in the US.

Meanwhile, Canadian citizens will continue to see the old name, Lake Ontario, while users elsewhere will see both names as follows: Lake Ontario (Lake America). Google also shared a glimpse of what it will look like visually, though you can also check for yourself, as the changes are now live.

President Trump’s executive orders appear to be a result of the ongoing spat over tariffs between the two nations. In July, the US imposed additional 50% tariffs on a broad range of goods, including electronics, vehicles (and auto parts), and steel, originating from Canada under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930. Canada retaliated with identical tariffs on American goods, calling for “dollar-for-dollar” tariff parity.

Just days after the Canadian Prime Minister announced these levies, Trump ordered the official renaming of Lake Ontario. While doing so, Trump quipped, “We have a gulf, and we have a lake. Now, all we need is an ocean,” suggesting that either the Atlantic or the Pacific Ocean be renamed for the US to have a more complete ensemble.

Over the weekend, Trump posted an AI-generated video of him walking up to Lake Ontario, kicking the signage with its name on it, and installing a new one that says “Lake America” on Truth Social.

Canada further retaliated by installing a giant physical billboard on the shoreline, calling it “Lake Ontario, Always and Forever.”