Apple has updated its Maps application to display Lake Ontario as Lake America for users within the United States, following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump. The change applies only to US-based users, while Canadian users will continue to see the traditional Lake Ontario designation on their Maps displays.
The renaming stems from escalating trade tensions between the United States and Canada. Trade negotiations between the two countries collapsed late last month, resulting in the US implementing 50% tariffs on approximately $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. In response, Canada’s government indicated it would impose equivalent counter-tariffs. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration cited unacceptable demands as the reason for withdrawing from negotiations and called on the Trump administration to engage more seriously in future discussions.
Trump’s executive order directs the US Department of the Interior to update the Geographic Names Information Service, the official database of geographic place names in the country, within 30 days. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum specifically encouraged Apple to rename the lake on its Maps platform in compliance with the order. Trump has also shared AI-generated videos on social media depicting himself replacing a Lake Ontario sign with one reading Lake America.
Google made a similar adjustment to its Maps service for US-based users in recent days, stating that its mapping applications are updated to reflect official government-sourced name changes. The company had previously made an analogous change regarding the Gulf of Mexico in 2025, renaming it to the Gulf of America for US users following Trump’s declaration. Apple similarly updated that designation across its services. Google faced legal action from Mexico over its decision to implement that change.
Response to the renaming has been mixed. MapQuest, a free web mapping service, announced it would not adopt the new name. Ontario Premier Doug Ford had a sign installed at the lake reading Lake Ontario, stating it would remain that designation “now and forever.” MapQuest subsequently climbed to the top of most-downloaded free applications on Canada’s Apple App Store.
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