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U.S. President Donald Trump sits next to a map with "Lake America" written on it as he attends an event to sign an executive order at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., Aug. 27, 2026.
Evan Vucci | Reuters
The former CEO of U.S.-based credit union Family First is no longer with the company, days after she posted an allegedly AI-edited family photo of her family with "Lake America" sweatshirts.
On Wednesday, a statement posted to the company's website revealed that Jane Smith was no longer with Family First "effective immediately," with chief operations officer Jason Acosta serving as interim CEO. It was signed by Maurice Patterson, chairman of the Family First Credit Union board, and Acosta.
Family First did not state that if the reaction was the reason for Smith leaving, even though the company posted on Thursday that "we sincerely apologize for the concern, disappointment and pain this situation has caused our members and community."
Family First is based in Michigan, a state that borders Canada.
Smith on Sept. 11 had posted the photo on Facebook with the caption: "Like our sweatshirts? Not sure Canada will. Lol lol"
The post has since been deleted from Facebook, CBC News reported.
"We weren't trying to make a political statement," Smith reportedly said. "However, we were, you know, kind of poking fun at the fact that you know one of the Great Lakes' names were getting changed."
In an earlier statement to ABC12 News, Family First had said it "unequivocally disapproves and rejects the content of the social media post involving our CEO, Jane Smith."
U.S. Congressman Timothy Kennedy (D-N.Y.) has also introduced legislation to block Trump's attempt to rename Lake Ontario and prohibit the future renaming of any of the five Great Lakes.
