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

Apple alters Lake Ontario's label to "Lake America" for U.S. consumers of its Maps application, following a directive from President Donald Trump in response to escalating trade tensions with Canada. The new moniker was introduced on Wednesday and remains visible only to American users of the application, while individuals utilizing Maps elsewhere continue to see the traditional name, "Lake Ontario".

Apple confirmed that the company received direct communication from the president regarding the change but did not provide further comment on the matter. The decision comes amid Trump's ongoing trade conflict with Canada, which includes a series of escalating measures such as the imposition of tariffs on both countries. Earlier this week, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum alleged that Trump had contacted Apple "directly" about the alteration.

The president announced the renaming on Friday, aligning with his administration's efforts to assert control over geographical designations across the border. Google Maps subsequently rolled out the revised label over the weekend, adhering to its policy of using names from the U.S. Geographic Names Information System, which designates different names for the same body of water depending on the country.

Apple's move to rename the lake mirrors a tactic previously employed by the company, which also updated the names of the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America" following a similar presidential order last year. However, not all mapping services have complied with the latest directive. MapQuest, for instance, has opted not to modify the label for Lake Ontario, offering users the option to assign any name they prefer via a separate online platform.

The company's recent surge in downloads has also been noteworthy, with the app achieving top rankings in free apps downloads in both the U.S. and Canada on Apple's App Store.