On August 27, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the federal government to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America.” The lake, which borders both the United States and Canada, has been known as Lake Ontario for centuries. The order directed the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Board on Geographic Names to update official U.S. government records and maps.
The White House argued that the change recognizes the lake’s importance to American history, commerce, transportation, and national security. The administration also emphasized the United States’ role in protecting the Great Lakes and maintaining shipping routes.
However, the decision quickly created controversy in both countries. Canadian officials and many Canadians rejected the new name, arguing that the United States cannot unilaterally change the name of a lake shared by two countries. Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded by reaffirming the name “Lake Ontario.” The controversy also came amid growing tensions between the United States and Canada over trade and tariffs.
The change became more visible when Google Maps began displaying “Lake America” to users in the United States on August 30. Canadian users continued to see “Lake Ontario,” while users elsewhere could see both names.
Although the renaming does not change the lake itself or affect Canada’s official naming of it, the dispute has become another symbol of the increasingly complicated relationship between the two neighboring countries.
