Trump's 'Lake America' Order Sparks Backlash and Surging Downloads for MapQuest

US President Donald Trump has ordered a name change for Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' amid his ongoing trade war with Canada. The directive was issued on Friday, and Google Maps implemented the change over the weekend. Apple Maps followed suit on Wednesday, displaying 'Lake America' to US users while still showing 'Lake Ontario' to those outside of the country.

However, not all map providers have complied. MapQuest, a popular mapping app, has refused to rename Lake Ontario and instead allows users to label it whatever they want through an online tool. The move appears to be paying off for MapQuest, which reported a surge in downloads this week, topping the charts of free apps with new downloads in both the US and Canada on Apple's App Store.

The change is one of several provocations in Trump's trade war with Canada, which has resulted in tariffs being imposed on goods crossing the border. Canadian officials have rejected the name change, with Ontario Premier Doug Ford stating that 'It's Lake Ontario to Canadians and the rest of the world. Now and forever.'

Last year, Trump ordered a similar name change for the Gulf of Mexico, renaming it the 'Gulf of America.' Apple and Google updated their maps in response, but not all providers followed suit.