Apple has renamed Lake Ontario as ‘Lake America’ for users of its Maps app in the United States, following an executive order from Donald Trump amid ongoing trade tensions with Canada. The new name is now displayed on the Apple Maps app for US users, while those outside the country will continue to see the original name.
Background
The decision to change the name came after Trump personally requested that Apple comply with his order. In a post on Truth Social, Trump celebrated the adoption of the name by both Google Maps and Apple Maps, stating that the change was now "complete, ratified, and binding."
However, the US government cannot compel Canada or any other country to adopt this new name. The official announcement of the name change was made last week, although Trump did not reference the escalating trade dispute with Canada in his order.
Trade Tensions
The timing of the name change suggests it may be a retaliatory measure, as Canadian officials have criticized Trump's recent tariffs. Mark Carney, Canada's Prime Minister, rejected the name change, emphasizing that the lake's name originates from the Wendat Indigenous people and predates both the Canadian Confederation and the US Declaration of Independence.
