Trump Order Renames Lake Ontario, and Most Americans Object
An Economist/YouGov poll finds 68% disapprove of the Lake America renaming, while MapQuest gains users for keeping the old name.
· 2 countries
The Executive Order and the Map Apps
President Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario as "Lake America". Apple and Google have complied with the order, according to CNN.
MapQuest, a legacy navigation platform, has kept the Lake Ontario name. CNN reports that users are flocking to the service as a result.
MapQuest General Manager Doug Berger told CNN's Erin Burnett that usage is "through the roof", with downloads rising by more than a million. "People are posting screenshots on social media and actively contributing to the conversation," Berger said.
Public Opinion on the Renaming
An Economist/YouGov poll found that 68% of Americans strongly or somewhat disapprove of renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America, while 17% approve.
Large majorities of Democrats (85%) and Independents (77%) disapprove. Republicans are more evenly split, with 41% disapproving and 37% approving.
The exception is Republicans who identify as MAGA: 47% approve of the renaming and 29% disapprove. Non-MAGA Republicans disapprove by 67% to 22%.
The Wider Dispute With Canada
The same YouGov poll was taken against the backdrop of a 50% tariff Trump imposed on many Canadian goods. YouGov reports that 58% of Americans oppose raising tariffs on Canadian imports and 26% support it.
YouGov also found 68% of Americans say Trump's tariffs have hurt average Americans, including 50% who say they have hurt a lot. Only 14% say they have helped.
Views of Canada itself have shifted. YouGov reports that 39% of Americans call Canada an ally and 25% call it friendly, while 19% call it unfriendly and 3% an enemy. Among Republicans, 38% now view Canada as unfriendly or an enemy, which YouGov describes as by far the highest level in the past decade.
Ontario's Response
Global News reports that Ontario Premier Doug Ford put up a giant Lake Ontario sign, and that the premier's office confirmed it cost $25,000.
The Global News material available here consists mainly of reader comments arguing over whether the spending was justified. It does not say where the sign was placed or when it went up.
It is also not yet known from these sources whether Apple or Google will revisit their decision, or what practical effect the renaming has on official maps outside those apps.
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