In the news today: federal byelections, Google renames Lake Ontario, GM deal ratified

Google has changed the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America” in its U.S. Google Maps application, following an order from President Donald Trump. The update occurred amid a trade war with Canada that has resulted in billions of dollars in tariffs imposed by both nations. This renaming decision mirrors a similar action taken by Google in 2025 when they renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

Google explained in a blog post that the change aligns with their practice of using names assigned by the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). Users in the U.S. will see “Lake America,” while those in Canada and outside the U.S. and Canada will continue to see “Lake Ontario.” The updates are rolling out now, reflecting Google's long-standing policy for bodies of water with varying names across countries.

The renaming order by Trump has been met with ridicule and indifference in both countries. Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded with a billboard on the Canadian shore declaring, “Lake Ontario. Now and forever.” The White House, the Canadian Prime Minister's office, and Ford's office have not yet commented on Google's decision. Google, a leading search engine and major digital advertising network based in Mountain View, California, is owned by Alphabet Inc.