Michigan credit union CEO Jane Smith loses her job after AI 'Lake America' sweatshirt photo provokes Canadian backlash

From the Newshound archive · first published 26 September 2026.

Jane Smith, CEO of Family First Credit Union in Michigan, was fired after she posted an AI-edited family photo on 9/11 showing her relatives in sweaters bearing the words 'Lake America' — Trump's name for Lake Ontario. Smith said she used ChatGPT to add the slogan to the image, taken at Detroit airport before a 10-day trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The credit union apologised for the 'disappointment and pain' caused and named chief operations officer Jason Acosta as interim CEO.

Smith insisted the post — captioned 'Not sure Canada will. Lol lol' — was 'just for fun, not a political message.'

Trump signed an executive order last month ordering federal agencies to rename Lake Ontario 'Lake America' amid his escalating trade war with Canada.

Canadians, who share a portion of the lake's shoreline, flooded social media with outrage, forcing Smith to delete the post before her dismissal followed within days.