MapQuest tops Apple App Store after refusing to change Lake Ontario to "Lake America" MapQuest has surged to the top of the Apple App Store’s free app rankings after choosing not to rename Lake Ontario as "Lake America," a decision that sparked significant user interest and downloads. The digital mapping company’s refusal to comply with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump last week to rename the lake has positioned it as the most downloaded free app on the platform. The move has also led to a dramatic increase in app usage, with the company reporting that hundreds of thousands of users have downloaded the app since the announcement. The decision by MapQuest to retain the historical name of Lake Ontario was highlighted in a press release issued by the company on Monday. The statement emphasized that the company’s choice to keep the lake’s original name was part of a broader effort to preserve familiar geographical labels. “The surge follows MapQuest’s decision to keep the historical, familiar names for lakes and gulfs on its maps,” the company noted. This approach aligns with its previous stance on the Gulf of Mexico, where it chose not to rename the body of water despite similar executive directives. MapQuest’s decision was publicly announced on social media on August 27, the same day President Trump signed the executive order directing federal agencies to update maps to reflect the new name. The company’s social media posts included a simple message: “We’re not changing it.” Later, the company clarified its position, stating, “We are aware that Lake Ontario is being correctly labeled on our map.” Additionally, MapQuest introduced a feature allowing users to customize the name of the lake, further emphasizing its commitment to user choice.#president_donald_trump #apple_app_store #google_maps #lake_ontario #mapquest
