Apple Maps has renamed Lake Ontario “Lake America” for users in the United States - provoking accusations that another technology giant has caved to President Donald Trump.
The change began rolling out Tuesday following Trump’s directive ordering the federal government to rename the body of water, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported. Apple Maps will keep the “Lake Ontario” name for Canadian users, while international users will see both names.
On social media, critics were up in arms over the change, which many pointed out came on John Ternus’ first day as Apple’s new CEO.
“I hate all these spineless companies,” engineer and researcher Robert Aldrige wrote on X. “Apple, Google, and Microsoft are all more powerful than the US government. F------ cowards.”
Washburn University law professor Joseph Mastrosimone was equally as blunt.
“It is still Lake Ontario. It is still the Gulf of Mexico,” he told his followers. “If you use a different label for those bodies of water, it is a tell that you are a moron.”
Others threatened to abandon Apple Maps in favor of one company refusing to follow Trump’s lead.
“@MapQuest for the win!!!” one X user wrote. MapQuest has said it currently has no plans to adopt the new name.
“Shame on Apple Maps for caving to Donald Trump!” added political commentator Lucas Sanders. “Who else is done with Apple Maps?”
“Way to make a first impression, John Ternus,” posted “Jeopardy!” Champion Hemant Mehta.
The name change stems from an order Trump signed last week amid his escalating trade fight with Canada. It gave the Interior Department 30 days to implement the new name across federal databases and materials.
Apple Maps is renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America. Change is rolling out now.
US: Lake America
Canada: Lake Ontario
International: Both names https://t.co/98Sb5X7Guo
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) September 1, 2026