Apple and Google altered the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America, responding to a request from the American President, Donald Trump. The change was implemented exclusively for users in the United States, while Canadians will continue to see the original name. This alteration follows a similar change of the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America.
Donald Trump signed an executive order on August 27 that formalized the name change. The Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, confirmed on the Fox News program "Mornings with Maria" that Trump "contacted Apple directly" and expressed confidence that the new name would soon be visible on the platform.
Google Maps explained that it adopted the new name following the established practice of using names from the United States Geographic Names Information System. The technology company clarified that users in the US will see "Lake America," users in Canada will see "Lake Ontario," and those outside these countries will see both names. The MapQuest service, however, announced that it would not proceed with the name change.
The lake's name change arose in the context of a trade dispute between the United States and Canada, which led to increased tariffs from both sides. The United States imposed 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian products, and Canada responded with equivalent measures. Trump's executive order justified the change by citing US investment in protecting the Great Lakes, including nearly four billion dollars in the last decade.
