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Apple Maps adopts 'Lake America' for US users after Trump order

Apple Maps and Google Maps have adopted 'Lake America' for U.S. users following President Trump's executive order renaming Lake Ontario.

By Marisol Vega, Political correspondent · United States · Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Apple Maps and Google Maps have updated their platforms to display 'Lake America' for users in the United States, following an executive order President Donald Trump signed on August 27, 2026, directing that Lake Ontario be renamed in U.S. federal usage, according to CNN, CNBC, Axios, and Fox Business.

Apple confirmed to Reuters, as reported by Fox Business, that U.S. users will see 'Lake America,' Canadian users will continue to see 'Lake Ontario,' and users elsewhere will see both names. Google Maps made the same change for U.S. users on Saturday, August 30, citing updates to the U.S. Geographic Names Information System, which were triggered by the executive order, per Axios and Fox Business. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Newsweek the executive order requires the Department of Interior's Board of Geographic Names to update its system, which 'cascades down to all the map providers.' Burgum also told Axios that Trump personally called Apple to request the name change. At the signing, Trump said, per CNBC, 'Canada has been ripping us off for a long time on trade.'

NBC News reported that the executive order does not compel foreign governments, international bodies, or private companies to adopt the new designation. MapQuest stated it would not rename Lake Ontario, per Axios and Newsweek, and subsequently rose to the number-one downloaded navigation app, according to Newsweek.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that the name Lake Ontario 'is more than 400 years old, pre-dating both the Confederation of Canada and the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America,' and said Canada will continue to use the name Lake Ontario, per Time.

A Reuters-Ipsos poll cited by CNN found Americans oppose the renaming 63% to 14%, with Republicans opposing it 43% to 33%. Trump enacted 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion in Canadian goods; Canada announced retaliatory tariffs of up to 50% on U.S. imports, set to take effect September 8, per CNBC. The same poll found Americans oppose the Canada tariffs nearly 3-to-1, at 57% to 20%.

SourcesFox BusinessThe Standard (HK)CNN