US President Donald Trump announced his intention to rename Lake Ontario, a large body of water shared by the United States and Canada, to 'America Lake.' Trump signed the corresponding executive order in the White House amid the escalating trade war between the world's largest economy and its northern neighbor.
Following the announcement by President Donald Trump, Google changed the display of Lake Ontario on maps for users in the US, assigning it the name 'America Lake.' Meanwhile, a Canadian official sharply condemned the cross-border tension, calling it 'absolutely illogical.'
The US-based tech giant reported that Canadians will continue to see the name 'Lake Ontario' on their devices and computers, which is the indigenous name used for this lake since the 17th century. This dispute over names became the latest element of Trump's 'America First' narrative, as the United States and Canada intensify the trade war by exchanging mutual tariffs.
Apple Maps, pre-installed on all iPhones, does not feature any mention of 'America Lake' on its maps. Google explained its change by stating that it aligns with the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)—the official federal database of geographic names. The company stated in its blog that Google Maps users in the US will see 'America Lake,' while users in Canada will retain 'Lake Ontario'; residents outside the US and Canada will see both names.
This change echoes Trump's unilateral renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to America Gulf in January 2025, which was also rejected by Mexico. Ontario is the smallest of the five Great Lakes, located on the border between Ontario province in Canada and New York state in the US.
Provincial Premier Doug Ford voiced new criticism of the trade dispute and Trump's lake name change. He stated in an interview on ABC's 'This Week' that it was 'absolutely illogical,' comparing the situation to a plot from the comedy show 'Saturday Night Live' when the document to rename it to 'America Lake' was signed. Ford added that no one would call it America Lake and expressed disappointment.
Ford also warned that while the trade war would harm both countries, it would be 'definitely destructive to the US,' given that Canada is a major buyer of American vehicles. He noted that if these purchases ceased, American auto factories would suffer. The Premier stated: 'Tariffs on Canada are nothing more than a tax on Americans. It is probably the worst move you can make.'
The automotive sectors of Canada and the US are closely interconnected, with a significant portion of components for American cars being produced in Canada. Trump himself intervened on Sunday, stating that Americans 'want to make their own cars' and posting on his social network Truth Social: 'Canada has been bleeding us dry for years—NO MORE!'