CEO fired over viral 'Lake America' sweatshirt photo
The gist
A Michigan credit union CEO left after a 'Lake America' sweatshirt photo spread online.
An AI-edited joke can cost a career when it touches a national dispute.
How it unfolded
- Aug 2026U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario as Lake America amid a trade battle with Canada.
- Sep 11, 2026Jane Smith posted a Facebook photo of herself and three relatives in navy blue crewnecks reading 'Lake America,' captioned 'Like our sweatshirts? Not sure Canada will. Lol lol,' as her family left for a 10-day trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
- Sep 17, 2026Smith told ABC12 News in Michigan the picture contained an AI marker but was later reposted by her sister without the AI marker.