Jane Smith, the Michigan tourist and CEO of Family First Credit Union in Saginaw who posted a Sept. 11 Facebook photo of herself and three family members appearing to wear sweatshirts reading "Lake America," is no longer employed by the credit union, CBC News reports. The board posted a statement on the company website saying "Jane Smith is no longer an employee of Family First Credit Union, effective immediately" and named chief operations officer Jason Acosta as interim CEO. The credit union also posted an apology on its Facebook page saying it was "sincerely apologiz[ing] for the concern, disappointment and pain this situation has caused our members and community" and that it must "act in the best interest of the Credit Union." CBC said the statement did not explain whether Smith left voluntarily or was dismissed, and that the outlet had not yet reached Smith, Acosta or the credit union marketing team for comment. Smith previously told ABC12 News the image was AI-generated and meant as a joke, and said she did not have real sweatshirts and did not wear them. The photo drew heavy backlash in Canada after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario "Lake America," a move that prompted public pushback including a statement that Canadians would continue to call it Lake Ontario "now and always."
