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Trump ‘directly’ pushing Apple to update Lake Ontario name to Lake America in Maps

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Why This Matters

This incident highlights how political decisions can directly influence digital map services, impacting global perceptions and national branding. It underscores the growing intersection between government actions and technology platforms, affecting how consumers access geographic information. The move also raises questions about the neutrality and accuracy of digital mapping tools amid political pressures.

Key Takeaways

President Trump has “reached out to Apple directly” about changing Lake Ontario’s name to Lake America in Apple Maps, according to U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

Via Reuters:

Trump announced on Thursday that he was changing the name of the smallest of the five Great Lakes, part of ⁠an escalating trade feud with Canada that has prompted the two countries to impose reciprocal tariffs on billions of dollars in goods. “The president reached out to Apple directly, so I’m sure that we may be seeing that change coming up soon to Lake America,” Burgum said in an ‌interview ⁠on Fox Business’ “Mornings with Maria” program.

Google Maps already changed the label for U.S. users following the president’s executive order last week. Apple updated Maps to relabel the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America after a similar executive order.