Lake Ontario is now referred to as “Lake America” on Google Maps in the United States. Late Saturday, Google changed the designation of this eastern Great Lake, following President Donald Trump’s recent order for a change in official documentation.

The executive action issued by Trump on Thursday arose from a trade dispute regarding tariffs with Canada, whose capital province is also named Ontario. In a comparable incident in January 2025, Trump instructed that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America amidst a disagreement with a southern trade ally.

Firms such as Google, Apple, and Microsoft modified their databases to show Gulf of America once the US Department of the Interior updated its information, reflecting the trend seen after Trump’s latest directive. Therefore, when official data—which informs navigation and formal documents—recognized Lake America, Google’s mapping services adopted the new title.

Other platforms like Apple Maps and Bing Maps have yet to implement this change but are anticipated to follow. Even the Geographic Names Information System database’s map, which dictates such updates, still identified Lake Ontario on Sunday morning but indicated that changes are on the horizon.

Although entities like Google are not legally mandated to utilize official titles, they typically conform to resources such as GNIS. The names displayed on maps are contingent on the user’s geographical location.

In a statement, Google stated, “Users in the US will observe ‘Lake America,’ Canadians will see ‘Lake Ontario,’ and outside these nations, both names will be visible.” They also remarked, “These updates are consistent with our policy on region-specific designations for water bodies and are in the process of being implemented.”

Trump’s effort to modify maps has ignited significant dialogue among open-source mapping communities like OpenStreetMap, which supports businesses such as Uber and Lyft. OpenStreetMap recognizes both US and global designations, enabling organizations to select which name to display.

Conversely, MapQuest has announced it will not follow the changes, declaring on social media, “we’re not changing it,” in response to Trump’s directive.