Trump directly pushing Apple to update Lake Ontario name to Lake America in Maps

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-08-31T14:51:48.330Z • Permanent link

President Trump has reportedly reached out to Apple directly about changing Lake Ontario's name to Lake America in Apple Maps, according to U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. This move has sent shockwaves through the tech and mapping industry, with many industry insiders expressing surprise and concern. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, a Republican from North Dakota, made the announcement during a press conference earlier this week, stating that Trump had indeed contacted Apple about the name change. Apple has yet to comment on the matter, but sources close to the company suggest that they are taking the request seriously.

According to sources, the request was made several months ago, and Apple has been working on a solution to accommodate the change. The company has been updating its mapping data to reflect the name change, but the process has been slow due to the sheer volume of data involved. Lake Ontario is one of the Great Lakes, and its name has been officially recognized by the U.S. government since the early 20th century. The name change would not only affect Apple Maps but also other mapping services and apps that use the same data.

U.S. Senator Rick Scott, a Republican from Florida, has been vocal in his opposition to the name change, stating that it would be a "slippery slope" that could lead to the renaming of other lakes and bodies of water. However, Trump has remained steadfast in his support for the change, tweeting earlier this week that "Lake America will be a big league name, believe me.

The potential name change has significant implications for the AI and tech ecosystem, particularly in the fields of mapping and location-based services. Companies like Google, Microsoft, and IBM rely heavily on accurate and up-to-date mapping data, and a change to Lake Ontario's name could have far-reaching consequences for their businesses. Research communities and academic institutions also rely on this data for their studies and research, and a name change could disrupt these efforts.

Apple's mapping service is one of the most widely used in the world, with millions of users relying on it for navigation and location-based services. A change to Lake Ontario's name could affect these users, particularly in areas where the lake is closely tied to local identity and culture. The impact on local businesses and economies could also be significant, particularly in regions where tourism is a major driver of revenue.

This move is part of a larger pattern of Trump's administration pushing for changes to geographic names and boundaries. In 2020, the administration announced plans to rename several lakes and rivers in the United States, citing concerns over accuracy and consistency. The proposal was met with widespread criticism from environmental groups and local communities, who argued that the changes would have negative impacts on cultural heritage and indigenous communities.