President Donald Trump signed an executive order on August 27, 2026, renaming Lake Ontario as Lake America within official U.S. government records.
The renaming follows a broader pattern of geographic rebranding by the Trump administration. In January 2025, the president issued a similar order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, a change that was subsequently adopted by major map providers including Google, Apple, and Microsoft, according to reporting from Wired.
Google Maps and the GNIS Database Update
Google Maps began displaying Lake America for users in the United States on Saturday, August 30. The company stated the change was triggered by the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), the official federal database for geographic names, which formally updated the record on August 29.
- U.S. Users: See
Lake America
. - Canadian Users: Continue to see
Lake Ontario
. - International Users: See both names, typically displayed as Lake Ontario (Lake America).
Not all providers have complied. Apple Maps continued to refer to the body of water as Lake Ontario in the U.S. as of August 30, and MapQuest stated on social media that we’re not changing it
, according to Wired.
Doug Ford and the Canadian Response
Ontario Premier Doug Ford reacted to the executive order by installing a massive blue billboard at the Fifty Point Conservation Area in Hamilton, Ontario. The sign reads Lake Ontario – Now and Always
in English and Lac Ontario – Aujourd’hui et pour toujours
in French, according to CBS News.
“You may have heard that President Trump is trying to rename this lake, all because he doesn’t like Ontario and Canada standing up for ourselves. But let’s be serious. Long before President Trump, this lake was called Lake Ontario, and long after President Trump is gone, it will still be called Lake Ontario.”
Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario
The dispute between the two leaders turned personal. Ford described the renaming as something out of Saturday Night Live and previously referred to Trump as a loser
, dictator
, and bully
.
Other officials have echoed this rejection. New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated that New York won’t be calling it that
, and Vermont Governor Phil Scott called the decision petty and disappointing
.
Seneca Nation and Indigenous Cultural Claims
The renaming has also drawn criticism from the Seneca Nation, an Iroquoian-speaking nation in the region. President J. Conrad Seneca called for the executive order to be rescinded, arguing that the action shows blatant disrespect
for the Indigenous people who originally named the lake.
“The President cannot assert ownership over our culture or erase it through irresponsible political action.”
J. Conrad Seneca, President of the Seneca Nation
According to the Center for Great Lakes Literacy, the name Ontario is derived from the Iroquoian word oniatarí:io
, meaning lake of shining waters
. Seneca argued that the original name should remain as a reflection of the Indigenous people who lived along the lake long before the formation of the U.S. or Canada.
Tariffs and the Broader Trade Conflict
The renaming is a symbolic extension of a severe economic conflict. Following the collapse of trade talks, the U.S. and Canada have both levied tariffs as high as 50 percent on various imports, including steel, aluminum, lumber, and dairy products, according to The Independent.
The financial stakes are significant.
The impact on local governance varies. While the federal order affects national databases, local entities are not required to comply. The Rochester City Council recently voted to continue using the name Lake Ontario in official local capacities.
As the trade war continues, the U.S. government remains committed to the new nomenclature. During the signing ceremony for the executive order, President Trump hinted that he might attempt to rename one or more of the world’s oceans next, according to The Independent.
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