- Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' in the United States.
- During the signing, a large map behind Trump showed 'Lake America' in big red letters over Lake Ontario, and another map read 'MAKING THE GREAT LAKES EVEN GREATER.'
- Ontario Premier Doug Ford brushed aside the prospect of the name change as 'a lot of rhetoric,' and the office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
- Trump said his action was not meant to send a geopolitical message, but added that 'Canada's been ripping us off for a long time' on trade and military issues.
- Trump cannot force Canada to follow his preferred naming convention, and there is no single international body that determines names of international bodies of water.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to rename Lake Ontario to 'Lake America', a move that coincides with heightened trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada. The order directs the Interior Department to update the lake's name in U.S. geographic records.
Despite Trump's unilateral action, Canada is not obligated to follow suit, as there is no international authority governing the naming of shared bodies of water. Ontario Premier Doug Ford dismissed the name change as 'a lot of rhetoric', emphasizing that Canada cannot be forced to adopt the new designation.
Trump's decision comes as the U.S. imposes tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, prompting Canada to retaliate with its own tariffs on American products. The president stated that while the name change was not intended to convey a specific geopolitical message, he believes 'Canada's been ripping us off' on trade and military issues.
The name 'Lake Ontario' originates from the Huron Indigenous word 'oniatarí:io', meaning 'lake of shining waters.' Trump has previously attempted similar renaming efforts, including a proposal to call the Gulf of Mexico 'Gulf of America.' He humorously suggested that the U.S. might also consider renaming the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in the future.
“During the Oval Office signing, a map behind Trump displayed 'Lake America' in red letters over the lake, alongside another reading 'MAKING THE GREAT LAKES EVEN GREATER.' Trump said the move wasn't geopolitical but added, 'Canada's been ripping us off for a long time.'”
