MapQuest’s decision to defy the Trump administration’s directive to rename Lake Ontario as ‘Lake America’ has led to a surge in app downloads, propelling it to the top of the U.S. Apple App Store rankings. The move has drawn public support amid low approval ratings for the administration’s broader trade policies.

Public Opinion and Trump’s Policies

According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll published on Tuesday, only 14% of Americans support Trump’s attempt to rename Lake Ontario, while just 20% approve of the higher tariffs imposed on Canadian goods. A majority,57%,oppose the tariff increases, highlighting the unpopularity of recent trade measures — the administration issued the executive order as part of the ongoing U.S.-Canada trade tensions, but it has struggled to gain public or international backing.

MapQuest’s Defiant Stance and Public Response

MapQuest’s general manager, Doug Berger, said the app’s usage is currently at about 50 times the usual rate. He noted that the company has been part of the conversation around geographic name changes since 2025, when it resisted Trump’s rebranding of the Gulf of Mexico as the ‘Gulf of America.’

“We took the same approach we did with the Gulf of Mexico: be part of the conversation, and give people an app that keeps the names they’re familiar with,” Berger said in a statement. He added that “hundreds of thousands of people signaled to us this weekend that we got it right, by downloading our app.”

MapQuest has maintained its stance since an initial social media post on 27 August stating, “We’re not changing it.” The company later issued a message in all capital letters—reminiscent of Trump’s communication style,saying: “Our maps are big and beautiful. People come up to us and say we’ll get them places. And we do!”

Surge in Downloads and Political Reactions

According to Newsweek, MapQuest’s downloads increased by more than 300 percent following the decision. Berger told the outlet that the decision to retain the original name was “easy,” and that public support has grown since the Gulf of Mexico issue in 2025.

“People let us know we were making the right decision with their downloads back then, and they are downloading even more with Lake Ontario,” he said. “Millions of people are realizing they have a choice in which mapping app they use.”

Canada has rejected the name change and continues to recognize the body of water as Lake Ontario; the Trump administration argued that the majority of the lake’s volume is in U.S. territory, but this has not swayed public or international opinion.

While companies like Google have updated their systems to reflect the new name, MapQuest has taken a more defiant approach. Berger’s statements suggest that the company’s strategy of humor and user engagement has resonated with consumers, especially amid a broader backlash against Trump’s trade policies.