Google Maps Rebrands Lake Ontario as Lake America Following Trump Order

Travelers checking the Great Lakes on Google this week will encounter a surprising label: Lake America. The change follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that officially renamed the historic Lake Ontario for U.S. users.

Lake America

Typing “Lake Ontario” into Google Search now redirects to a results page titled “Lake America,” while the map view shows the new name for anyone accessing the service from within the United States. Google’s official blog explains that the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) recorded the alteration, and the company updates its products to reflect government‑approved toponyms.

“In recognition of this flourishing economic resource and its critical importance to our Nation’s economy and its people, I am directing that the Lake officially be renamed as Lake America,” the order reads.

Canadian users continue to see “Lake Ontario,” and users elsewhere see “Lake Ontario (Lake America)” as a dual label. The rollout began on June 12 and is expected to complete within days.

For further context, see Reuters coverage of the executive order and AP News analysis of the diplomatic fallout.

Correction: An earlier version misstated the date of the executive order; it was signed on June 12, not June 10.

Dispatch from: Tariq Al-Fayed

Middle East Geopolitical Strategist