US President Donald Trump has asked Apple to change the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America” on its Maps app, according to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. The request comes days after Trump signed an executive order directing the US Interior Department to update the lake’s name in the country’s official geographic naming system.

The move comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Canada over an escalating trade dispute that has seen both countries impose higher tariffs. While Google Maps has already adopted the “Lake America” label for users in the United States, Apple has not yet commented on Trump’s request.

Burgum Says Trump Contacted Apple

Speaking on Fox’s “Mornings with Maria” programme on Monday, Burgum said Trump had “reached out to Apple directly” and expressed confidence that the new name could soon appear on Apple’s mapping platform.

Lake Ontario is situated between New York state in the United States and the Canadian province of Ontario. It has been known as Lake Ontario for generations, and the US move to change its official name has drawn criticism across the border.

Trump announced the proposed change last week. His executive order issued on Friday directed the Interior Department to update the lake’s name in the US Geographic Names Information System, or GNIS.

The order, however, does not give the US authority to require Canada to adopt the new name.

Google Maps Displays Different Names By Region

Google Maps began displaying “Lake America” to users in the United States over the weekend, citing Trump’s order and its existing policy of using names recognised by the US Geographic Names Information System.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Google said, “People using Maps in the US will see Lake America, those in Canada will continue to see Lake Ontario, and those outside of the US and Canada will see both names.”

The company said the change was consistent with its “long-standing policy for bodies of water with names that vary from country to country.”

Apple’s response to Trump’s request was not immediately known. If the company follows the same approach, its mapping service could potentially display different names depending on the user’s location.

Canada And Indigenous Leaders Criticise Move

The proposed renaming has faced swift opposition in Canada, adding another point of friction between Ottawa and Washington as the two countries remain locked in a trade dispute.

The leader of the Seneca Nation in upstate New York also criticised the decision, saying it violated a treaty that is more than 225 years old. The move, the leader said, showed a “blatant disrespect” for the Indigenous people who originally gave Lake Ontario its name.

Trump’s latest effort is not the first time he has sought to rename a major body of water extending beyond US borders. Last year, he ordered the Gulf of Mexico to be renamed the Gulf of America.

Apple and Google subsequently changed the name displayed on their mapping services for users in the United States following that order.

The Lake Ontario dispute has once again placed map platforms at the centre of a debate over geographic naming, while adding another layer to the already strained relationship between the United States and Canada.

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