• Google Maps changes Lake Ontario's name to "Lake America" for U.S. users.
• The renaming follows President Trump's executive order amid trade tensions with Canada.
• Canada retains the historic name "Lake Ontario" on its maps.
• Local leaders in Canada criticize the name change as "absolutely backwards."
• Google maintains its policy of updating maps to reflect U.S. official geographic names.

Following President Trump's executive order, Google Maps has implemented changes to its display, labeling "Lake Ontario" as "Lake America" for users in the United States. This shift is a response to escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada, which have recently seen both countries imposing reciprocal tariffs on billions of dollars in goods. According to Google, as part of its policy to update maps in line with the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), users in Canada will continue to see "Lake Ontario," while those in the U.S. will view "Lake America" on their devices, and users outside the two countries will see both names on their maps, according to CBS News, India Times, and Reuters.

The name change of Lake Ontario to Lake America mirrors a previous action taken by Trump to rename the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America. The White House's action is viewed by many, including leaders in Canada, as an outgrowth of the "America First" narrative that has shaped current U.S. foreign policy. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has emphasized the deep historical roots of the name "Lake Ontario," stemming from Indigenous origins over 400 years ago. He criticized the decision as undermining the cultural significance tied to the lake, according to Channel News Asia and India Times.

Local officials within the U.S. have also expressed dissatisfaction with the name change. New York Governor Kathy Hochul asserted that "New York won't be calling it that," emphasizing the state's connection to the lake. Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Doug Ford articulated his disapproval during a media appearance, stating that the situation feels reminiscent of a comedic sketch, labeling it "absolutely backwards." Ford argued that the trade war resulting from Trump's policies would ultimately be more harmful to Americans, particularly regarding their auto industry, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.