The White House celebrated this Sunday the change of the name of Lake Ontario to "Lake America" on Google Maps for American users. Steven Cheung, White House communications director, announced the change on social media with the message "It's official! Now it's LAKE AMERICA on Google Maps!" The map platform adopted the change following a decision by President Donald Trump.
Trump signed an executive order on Thursday ordering the immediate change of the name of the lake, which lies on the border between the United States and Canada. The decision is part of a context of trade dispute between the US and Canada, a country that did not agree with the unilateral change.
The change, however, has no international recognition. Canadian authorities reacted with strong criticism of the decision. According to press reports, a Canadian representative classified the change as "completely absurd," rejecting the new name imposed by the United States.
