Ethan Carter
MapQuest is experiencing a renaissance in navigation services. This once-dominant mapping platform, which many thought had faded away, has seen a remarkable increase in downloads. The surge followed the announcement that it would not rename Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” despite a controversial executive order from Donald Trump.
According to TechCrunch, MapQuest soared to the top of the navigation app rankings in the Apple App Store, surpassing major competitors like Google Maps and Waze. This success is particularly noteworthy given that MapQuest was once the leading navigation tool before these other giants even existed. It has also made a significant leap, ranking fourth overall among all apps in the United States and second in Canada.
This resurgence can be attributed to MapQuest’s decision to maintain the name Lake Ontario. By standing firm and not capitulating to political pressure, this vintage mapping service has managed to carve out a unique identity that many larger tech companies have failed to achieve.
We’re not changing it. pic.twitter.com/NdeE9v2BNO
— MapQuest (@MapQuest) August 27, 2026
In contrast, Google announced over the weekend that it would comply with the name change. The company issued a statement confirming that, due to the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) officially changing Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” this new designation will be reflected in Google Maps for users in the United States. Google clarified that while users in the U.S. will see “Lake America,” those in Canada will still view it as “Lake Ontario,” and users from other countries will see both names.
Apple has yet to publicly disclose its plans regarding this name change. reports indicate that the Trump administration anticipates Apple will eventually comply. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum mentioned that Trump has been in discussions with Apple about the situation, suggesting that “we may be seeing that change coming up soon to Lake America.” Apple did not respond to inquiries about its approach to labeling the lake in Apple Maps, although the company previously bowed to a similar request by changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America” in its mapping service.
Meanwhile, MapQuest remains resolute. The company previously resisted the push to rename the Gulf of Mexico, choosing not to implement the change even after GNIS officially rebranded it as Gulf of America. Instead, MapQuest cleverly introduced a Gulf Name Generator, allowing users to create their own imaginative names for the gulf.
Welcome to the year 2026, where consumers are making choices about which navigation products to support based on the company’s willingness to withstand political pressures from an administration known for its contentious and spiteful actions.
Daniel Mercer
