Trump’s Nationalist Stunt: Demands Apple Rename Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' After Executive Order
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In a move emblematic of his administration’s performative nationalism, President Donald Trump has pressured Apple to rename Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' on its Maps app, following an executive order that also compelled Google to make the change for U.S. users.
U.S. President Donald Trump has once again prioritized empty nationalist gestures over substantive policy by asking Apple to rename Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' on its Maps platform, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum revealed. Speaking to Fox News, Burgum said the president personally contacted Apple, pushing for a rebranding that could soon appear on the tech giant’s service.
Google, bowing to the administration’s pressure, already updated its maps for U.S. users over the weekend. Meanwhile, Canadian users continue to see the historically accurate name. The move has sparked criticism in Canada, where Hydro One, a Toronto-based utility, blamed a third-party mapping service for the misleading label and is working to restore the original name.
Trump’s executive order, signed Thursday, directs the Interior Department to rewrite the Geographic Names Information System, the federal map database, to reflect the new, politically motivated name. Google confirmed it will display 'Lake America' for U.S. users but keep 'Lake Ontario' for Canadians, and will show both names elsewhere, highlighting the arbitrary nature of the change.
Not all mapping services are capitulating. MapQuest announced it will not participate in this nationalist rebranding, instead empowering users to assign any name they wish. Following the announcement, MapQuest saw a surge in downloads on the Apple App Store in Canada, as users sought an alternative to the White House’s interference.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded by unveiling a bilingual sign along the lakeshore reading 'Lake Ontario Now and Always,' standing firm against Trump’s attempt to erase history and reaffirming the province’s commitment to preserving its heritage.