MapQuest, the pioneering online mapping service, has become the most downloaded navigation app in the S. after it refused to follow President Donald Trump's executive order renaming Lake Ontario as "Lake America." The app topped Apple's App Store navigation chart as of Tuesday morning, according to TechCrunch, and reached fourth overall among all apps in the , excluding games, and second overall in Canada.
The surge follows Trump's Aug. 27 executive order directing federal agencies to refer to the smallest of the Great Lakes as "Lake America" amid trade tensions with Canada. Google Maps quickly complied, changing the name for S. users, while Apple Maps continued to show "Lake Ontario" as of Sept. 1. MapQuest, which predates both rivals, announced it was "not changing it" in a social media post on Aug. 27.
MapQuest's general manager, Doug Berger, said in a statement that usage of the app was running at about 50 times its usual rate. The company also offered subscribers a tool to generate their own name for the lake, a feature it first introduced after Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America in 2025. Berger was quoted as saying, "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."
Google announced over the weekend that it would adopt the new name in the , citing its policy to reflect name changes in official government sources. In a statement, Google said, "Since we update Google Maps to reflect name changes in official government sources, which is GNIS for the , people using Maps in the S. will see 'Lake America,' those in Canada will continue to see 'Lake Ontario,' and those outside of the S. and Canada will see both names."
Apple has not made an official announcement, but Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Reuters that Trump had spoken to Apple about the situation and that "we may be seeing that change coming up soon to Lake America." Apple did not respond to requests for comment, according to reports.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll published Tuesday found that only 14% of Americans approved of Trump's renaming efforts. The same poll found that 20% approved of higher tariffs on Canadian goods, while 57% opposed them.
The controversy has also prompted reactions in Canada. A sign reading "Lake Ontario – Now and Always" in English and French was erected near Grimsby, Ontario. Ontario Premier Doug Ford told ABC News, "No one's going to call it Lake of America. It's been Lake Ontario for hundreds of years. It's going to continue being Lake Ontario." Three Democratic representatives introduced the "Hands Off Our Great Lakes act" to block the renaming order.
MapQuest, a 30-year-old company that bills itself as the "OG" of internet mapping, has seen its downloads soar since the announcement. In a playful social media post, the company wrote, "Our maps are big and beautiful. People come up to us and say we'll get them places. And we do." It also responded to a poster referencing RadioShack, noting that RadioShack is still in operation as an e-commerce business.
The renaming order stems from an ongoing trade dispute between the S. and Canada. Trump previously renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America in 2025, a change that Google also adopted in the S. market.
As of Tuesday morning, Apple Maps continued to show "Lake Ontario," and MapQuest also retained the original name. The app's rise to the top of the charts suggests that users are rewarding the company's decision to stick with tradition.