From Lake Ontario to Lake America: Who gets to decide the names of geographical places?

U.S. President Donald Trump has instructed Apple to alter the name of Lake Ontario to "Lake America" within his administration's maps application, according to Interior Chief Doug Burgum. The proposal surfaced days after Trump signed an executive order concerning the lake, which has gained prominence due to his ongoing trade conflict with Canada.

Burgum stated on Fox's "Mornings with Maria" that Trump directly contacted Apple regarding the request, adding that he is optimistic the new name will appear on the platform in the near future. However, Apple has yet to respond to the report. The lake, traditionally recognized as Lake Ontario, is situated between New York, a U.S. state, and Ontario, a province in Canada.

On Saturday, Google Maps announced the implementation of the new name for its U.S. users, following the recent executive order and the company's consistent practice of adhering to names assigned by the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). Google clarified that users in Canada will retain the name "Lake Ontario," while those outside of the U.S. and Canada will see both names.

Trump announced the "Lake America" name last week, adding another layer of tension to his ongoing trade dispute with Canada, which has resulted in escalating tariffs on both sides of the border. Despite Trump's executive order, Canada has firmly rejected the idea. The Seneca Nation, an Indigenous group in upstate New York, criticized the move as a breach of a 225-year-old treaty and a blatant disregard for their heritage, as they originally named Lake Ontario.

This is not Trump's first attempt to rename a body of water with international significance. Earlier this year, he ordered the Gulf of Mexico to be renamed the Gulf of America, an action Apple and Google subsequently complied with.