Apple Maps renames Lake Ontario as ‘Lake America’ for US users after Trump order

The tech giant Apple has renamed Lake Ontario as "Lake America" for its US users of the Maps app, in response to an executive order issued by President Donald Trump. The controversial decision came amid a trade dispute between the US and Canada. For users outside the United States, the lake will still be displayed as Lake Ontario.

Apple had reportedly considered submitting to the new order after receiving a personal request from Trump. He expressed satisfaction with the news, announcing in a post on Truth Social that the name change was "complete, ratified, and binding." However, the US cannot compel any other country to change the name. The renaming was initially unveiled last week without any direct mention of the ongoing US-Canada trade tensions.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dismissed the attempt to rename the lake, stating that its name originates from the language of the Indigenous Wendat people and predates both Canadian Confederation and the US Declaration of Independence. The trade talks between Washington and Ottawa recently collapsed, leading to the imposition of a 50% tariff on several Canadian imports by the US.

Canada retaliated by implementing 25-50% tariffs on hundreds of US goods. President Trump justified the renaming in his order by claiming it acknowledges the American people's contributions and the region's rich history. Apple's competitor, Google, had already adopted the new name over the weekend, citing the US Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) for the change.