MapQuest, a longstanding mapping service, has declined to change the name of Lake Ontario, despite an executive order from President Donald Trump designating the body of water as “Lake America” for U.S. federal purposes. In a social media post that went viral, MapQuest shared a screenshot indicating that Lake Ontario remains the official name on their platform.
The company further engaged with users by launching a name generator, allowing people to rename the lake if they choose, while maintaining their stance. The post garnered over 4.7 million views, sparking debate over whether Google Maps will comply with Trump’s directive.
Reasons Behind Trump’s Rename
President Trump ordered the renaming due to escalating tensions following failed trade talks between the U.S. and Canada. In an executive order, Trump emphasized the lake’s historical significance in American trade, commerce, and defense. He criticized Canada’s trade behavior as entitled.
U.S. Geological Survey Director Ned Mamula confirmed that the lake’s name had been updated to Lake America in their electronic documents and the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), with printed documents to follow. However, the executive order is for federal use only and does not compel Canada or private companies to use the new name.
Public Reaction to MapQuest’s Decision
MapQuest, established in 1996 as a pioneer in web mapping services, gained attention for its response. Public reactions varied, with some praising the decision while others humorously noted MapQuest’s resurgence.
Eric Trump commented sarcastically on MapQuest’s continued existence. Users utilized the name generator to propose alternative names for the lake. The name change faced opposition from officials on both sides of the border.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney rejected the name change, citing Lake Ontario’s historical significance and origin from the Wendat word “Ontari’io.” Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul also stated that New York would retain the original name.
The U.S. State Department humorously addressed the issue, correcting an erroneous label on their website and apologizing for what they termed as “deadnaming” the lake.
Potential Google Maps Update
There is precedent for Google Maps adopting geographic name changes from official U.S. sources. When Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America, Google Maps updated its platform to reflect the change for U.S. users.
The GNIS update could similarly prompt the appearance of “Lake America” on Google Maps in the U.S., following their practice of reflecting official designations. Newsweek has contacted Google for comments on whether they will adopt the Lake America name following MapQuest’s refusal.
Google Maps began displaying the name Gulf of America in February 2025, after the GNIS update. The platform displayed different names depending on the user’s location, maintaining consistency with official government sources while respecting naming differences across borders.