Eric Trump Faces Online Backlash After Posting ‘Lake America’ Hat Photo
POLICY WIRE — New York, USA — Social media users have launched a wave of criticism against Eric Trump following his decision to share a photograph of himself wearing a hat emblazoned with the words...
POLICY WIRE — New York, USA — Social media users have launched a wave of criticism against Eric Trump following his decision to share a photograph of himself wearing a hat emblazoned with the words “Lake America”.
The image, which features the Trump scion staring into the camera in a cap styled after the well-known “MAGA” headwear, was posted without a caption.
The post follows a recent executive order signed by President Trump on August 27, which officially renamed Lake Ontario to Lake America during a tense trade dispute with Canada.
While Eric Trump has frequently used social media to support the president’s decision, the new photo has instead triggered widespread ridicule on X.
Among the critics was the press office of New York Governor Kathy Hochul, which responded to the post with a screenshot from the HBO series Succession.
The image depicts the character Logan Roy looking sternly at his son in a show centered on siblings vying for control of their father’s corporate empire.
This is not the first time Hochul’s office has used the show to target the Trump family; they previously replied to a post by the president’s third child regarding U.S. passports with a clip of Roy stating, “You are not serious people.”
Other reactions on X were equally sharp, with journalist Harrison Lowman suggesting the hats would likely be sold at the Oval Office merchandise shop soon.
One user questioned the utility of the hat, asking if it would help lower the cost of diesel or grocery bills.
Some users went as far as digitally altering the photo, changing the text on the cap to read Lake Ontario, Fake America, or Delusional.
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The renaming of the lake occurs amidst a volatile trade environment where, despite claims of a “DEAL,” the U.S. imposed tariffs on certain Canadian imports, leading to retaliatory measures from Canada.
The name change has seen mixed adoption among tech giants; while Google Maps and Apple Maps now display “Lake America” for users in the U.S., MapQuest has refused to update its data.
A MapQuest representative stated bluntly on X, We’re not changing it.
Eric Trump responded to the company by mocking its relevance, claiming he thought the iPhone 3 had put the service out of business 15 years ago.
MapQuest has since seen a surge in popularity, climbing to the top of the Apple App Store charts.
The company later shared a screenshot of its top ranking, with a spokesperson noting, The people have spoken. We are working.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
