Google’s Obedience to Trump’s “Lake America” Order Follows a Depressing Pattern
If you’re a Google Map user in the United States, you’ll now see the name “Lake America” instead of “Lake Ontario,” just days after President Trump’s executive order renaming the body of water amid his ongoing trade war with Canada. In an announcement published late on Saturday, Google explained that it “reflect[s] name changes in […]
Since Google Maps users in the United States now encounter the designation "Lake America" instead of "Lake Ontario," it is evident that the company has once again complied with an executive order issued by President Trump. This follows a similar pattern observed when Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America in January, with Google subsequently adjusting its map names accordingly.
On Saturday, Google provided an explanation for the change, stating that they "reflect[ ] name changes in official government sources," specifically citing the US Geographic Names Information System. Notably, users in Canada still see "Lake Ontario," while those outside the US and Canada will see both names: "Lake Ontario (Lake America)." Google's announcement emphasizes their adherence to their longstanding policy for bodies of water with names that differ across countries.
The announcement was made just days after Trump posted an AI-generated video on Truth Social, showcasing himself replacing a "Welcome to Lake Ontario" sign with a "Welcome to Lake America" sign. Trump's AI avatar then performed robotically to the tune of the Village People's "Y.M.C.A." Earlier in the day, he shared an AI video featuring ducks with Trump's haircut firing assault rifles to celebrate "Lake America."
Reactions to the incident have been predominantly negative online, although Google has a history of minimal resistance to the Trump administration. This was evident when the company previously implemented a similar approach when Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, adjusting its map names based on country-specific conventions.
Moreover, Google has demonstrated a willingness to align with the Trump administration's directives in other areas, such as removing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring goals in February, reviewing executive orders that aimed to undo DEI initiatives in the federal government, and contributing $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund last year. Alongside other tech giants like Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft, Google's actions indicate a pattern of cooperation with Trump's policies.
Written by urgent.news from Mother Jones's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
