Trump supporters in Ontario, NY balk at lake renaming order
Residents of the upstate New York town of Ontario, who voted for Donald Trump, object to his executive order changing the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America.”
President Donald Trump issued an executive order to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America,” linking the move to his ongoing trade conflict with Canada. The town of Ontario, located on the lake’s southern shore about 15 miles east of Rochester, has a history of voting for Trump in 2016, 2020 and 2024, yet many residents oppose the name change. Store owner Dave Rupp argued the lake’s historic name should remain, while farmer Cassandra Tylenda expressed support for the tariffs but not the renaming.
Non-supporter Serena Eaton criticized the decision as a diversion from issues like the Epstein files and the Gaza war. One outlet/Ipsos survey found the proposal unpopular, and the backlash has driven a surge in MapQuest usage after Google Maps reflected the new name for U.S. users. MapQuest’s general manager Doug Berger noted a dramatic rise in app activity, while White House spokesman Taylor Rogers defended the order as protecting American interests.
Why it matters
The story shows how a presidential naming order can spark local opposition and affect tech platforms.
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