The White House is personally asking Apple to drop the name Lake Ontario and start calling it Lake America on digital maps. This request comes right after President Donald Trump signed an order to change the name in the official United States database. While other apps swapped to the new label for American users over the weekend, Apple has not yet updated its massive mapping platform.
The president wants the app updated during a messy trade war
The whole fight started because of a messy trade war between the United States and Canada, with both sides throwing huge tariffs at each other. Last week, the president told all government agencies to start using the Lake America name. Since big tech companies grab their map info from the federal database, Google Maps quickly adjusted its labels on Saturday to match the new rules.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told reporters that the president actually spoke directly to Apple about the maps. Burgum said he expects the new name to pop up on screens very soon. Even with the top boss of the country asking for a fix, Apple Maps still shows the classic Lake Ontario name to anyone trying to find the water today.
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When the tech giant finally pushes the update through its servers, the map will probably look different depending on where you stand. People opening the app in the United States will see the new name, while users across the border in Canada will still see Lake Ontario. Canadian leaders think the whole thing is ridiculous, reminding everyone that the original Indigenous name is older than both countries.
Even though Apple is taking its time, the map will eventually catch up with the federal records. Soon enough, American phone users will just have to get used to seeing a brand new name for a very old lake.
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