Google Maps Updates Name of Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' Amid Controversy

<p>President Donald Trump's order to rename Lake Ontario to "Lake America" has generated controversy as tech companies decide whether to comply. </p><p><strong>The big picture:</strong> Google and other digital map providers, including MapQuest and Apple, have differing responses regarding the name change. </p><hr /><p><strong>Driving the news:</strong> An Axios review of Google and Apple Maps on August 30, 2026, indicated that Google has updated its maps to reflect "Lake America" on both mobile and desktop platforms, while Apple Maps continues to display Lake Ontario. </p><ul><li>Google stated that the change was made in accordance with updates from the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and that Google Maps was updated to reflect name changes in official government sources.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out:</strong> According to Google's statement, users in the U.S. will see Lake America, users in Canada will see Lake Ontario, and users in other countries will see both names. </p><ul><li>Google's update follows its policy for bodies of water with names that differ by country and is currently being rolled out.</li><li>Google has previously made similar changes, such as renaming the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America following another Trump executive order, which led to a lawsuit threat from Mexico.</li><li>Apple representatives did not provide immediate comments regarding their position on the name change.</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying:</strong> The backlash against the name change was immediate after Trump signed the executive order on August 27. </p><ul><li>Ontario Premier Doug Ford compared the decision to a "Saturday Night Live" skit during an appearance on ABC's "This Week," stating: "No one's going to call it Lake of America. It's been Lake Ontario for hundreds of years. It's going to continue being Lake Ontario. It's just so disappointing." </li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines:</strong> Not all mapping services are changing their names. </p><ul><li>MapQuest announced that it will not change its maps to reflect Trump's order, stating: "We're not changing the name of Lake Ontario. Name it whatever you want at your leisure," in a tweet that gained significant attention.</li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper:</strong> <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/27/trump-lake-ontario-america-democrats-bill" target="_blank">Scoop: Dems plan bill to counter Trump's 'Lake America' order</a></p>