Trump Demands Apple Erase Indigenous and Canadian Heritage by Renaming Lake Ontario 'Lake America' Amid Trade Dispute
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In a move emblematic of nationalist overreach and disregard for Indigenous and international agreements, President Donald Trump has requested Apple to relabel Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' on its maps, following an executive order that further escalates trade tensions with Canada.
U.S. President Donald Trump, continuing his pattern of nationalist grandstanding, asked Apple to erase the name 'Lake Ontario' and replace it with 'Lake America' on its Maps app, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum revealed on Fox’s 'Mornings with Maria' on Monday. Burgum stated that Trump contacted Apple directly, pushing for the erasure of a name that holds deep significance for both Canadians and Indigenous peoples, and expressed confidence that the new, imposed name would soon appear on the platform.
Apple has yet to respond, and as of Monday afternoon, the Apple Maps label still honored the historical name 'Lake Ontario,' positioned above the water border with Canada. Over the weekend, Google Maps, bowing to U.S. government pressure, began showing 'Lake America' for U.S. users, while Canadian users continued to see 'Lake Ontario.' International users could see both names, highlighting the arbitrary nature of the change. Google justified this by citing its policy of using names from the U.S. Geographic Names Information System, which now reflects Trump’s unilateral directive.
Trump announced the new name last week as part of his aggressive escalation in the trade dispute with Canada, a conflict that has already led to increased tariffs and economic strain on both sides. An executive order issued on Friday directed the Interior Department to overwrite the lake’s name in the U.S. geographic naming service, disregarding centuries of shared history and treaties.
Canadian officials and the Seneca Nation’s leader condemned the move, emphasizing that it violates a 225-year-old treaty and tramples on Indigenous naming heritage, further exposing the administration’s disregard for marginalized voices and international cooperation.