Google Maps switches to 'Lake America' for US users after Trump order, sparking Canadian backlash

President Donald Trump signed an executive order that officially changed the name of the border-spanning lake from Lake Ontario to Lake America. In response, Google Maps began showing "Lake America" to users whose region is set to the United States, while Canadian users continue to see "Lake Ontario" and other users see both names. The alteration was met with immediate criticism on X, with commenters labeling it misinformation and accusing Google of yielding to political pressure.

Ontario MPP Stephen Crawford warned that several provincial websites, including Metrolinx, were now displaying the new name because they embed Google Maps, prompting a review to correct the labeling. Premier Doug Ford echoed Crawford’s sentiment, stating the lake will always be called Lake Ontario. A Google spokesperson clarified that developers can choose a regional setting that determines which name appears on their embedded maps.