Apple has renamed Lake Ontario as “Lake America” on the US version of Apple Maps after President Donald Trump issued an executive order. The change appeared on Apple Maps on Tuesday, following Alphabet’s decision to make the same update on Google Maps.
Apple confirmed that users in the United States will now see “Lake America” after the body of water’s name changed in the US Geographic Names Information System. However, Canadian users will continue seeing Lake Ontario. Users elsewhere will see both names, following Apple’s approach to the Gulf of Mexico’s previous renaming.
Apple Follows US Government Naming Change
The latest update highlights growing pressure on major US technology companies to follow government decisions involving geographic names. Trump’s executive order applies to US federal government usage of the lake’s name. It does not determine how Canada, international organizations or other countries refer to the body of water.
Lake Ontario is one of North America’s five Great Lakes and shares a border between the United States and Canada.
Around 52% of the lake’s surface area lies in Canada, while the remaining portion lies within New York state. The naming dispute has created another point of tension between Washington and Ottawa.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and New York Governor Kathy Hochul rejected the proposed name shortly after Trump issued his order.
Both indicated that they would continue using Lake Ontario, a name that has existed for more than 400 years.
Canadians Reject Lake America Name
The renaming comes amid broader tensions between Trump and Canada.
Trump has repeatedly suggested that Canada could become the 51st US state, although Canadian leaders have dismissed the idea. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll also found that most Americans oppose Trump’s latest measures targeting Canada.
The poll showed opposition to higher taxes on imported Canadian goods alongside the decision to rename Lake Ontario.
Trump previously ordered the Gulf of Mexico to be renamed the Gulf of America in January 2025.
Both Apple and Google subsequently updated their mapping services to display the new name for users in the United States. The Lake Ontario dispute similarly shows how technology companies can become involved in political and diplomatic disagreements.
While Apple and Google have adjusted their US-facing maps, the changes do not establish a universal international name for the lake.
