Apple Adopts Trump’s ‘Lake America’ Moniker, Following Google’s Example

Apple has followed Google’s lead and officially changed the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America” on its Apple Maps platform, in response to a recent directive from President Trump.

Users accessing Apple Maps in the United States will start seeing Lake America instead of Lake Ontario — one of North America’s five Great Lakes — on both the website and mobile application. This alteration will be specific to users in the United States, while Canadian users of Apple Maps will continue to see Lake Ontario, and individuals outside both countries will still be able to view both names.

This adjustment comes after an executive order signed by Trump on August 27, which instructed the Interior Department to update the lake’s name in the U.S. geographic naming service and various federal databases within a 30-day timeframe.

“In recognition of this vital economic asset and its significant contribution to our Nation’s economy and its citizens, I am directing that the Lake officially be renamed as Lake America,” states the order.

Trump’s directive, and the subsequent compliance from Apple and Google, has sparked increased tensions with Canada, particularly after trade negotiations between the two nations hit a standstill.

Apple did not respond to requests for comment. However, Google Maps explained its reasoning for the name change, stating in a recent announcement that it updates names to reflect changes in official government sources like the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).

Not all mapping services, however, have adopted this naming approach. MapQuest confirmed it will continue using the name Lake Ontario on its maps, choosing to adhere to the name that is recognized by the public. (It also did not change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America last year.)

The lake’s renaming has led to a significant increase in users for MapQuest. Downloads of the original mapping service soared, pushing the iOS app to the top of the U.S. App Store charts, surpassing the often-leading ChatGPT as of September 1.

MapQuest also achieved the No. 6 overall ranking in Google’s Play Store for both apps and games. The company seems firm in its position, recently sharing a GIF of an apple on X with the caption “Them Too.” Furthermore, in a post highlighting MapQuest as the top downloaded app, the company stated, “The people have spoken. We are working.”

There is a history of Apple and Google following Trump’s directives, as both companies changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America after a name change order from Trump last year.