- President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday afternoon to change the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” his latest escalation as he engages in a tense trade war with Canada.
- Effective immediately, Trump stated that his staff had filed all the necessary papers for the name change, surrounded by large maps of the Great Lakes.
- Trump has been floating the idea of the name change in recent days as the U.S. announced it was imposing tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods after talks broke down.
- In response, Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs on $20 billion worth of American goods, including steel and dairy products.
- Trump suggested he may rename the Atlantic and/or Pacific oceans next, stating, “Now, all we need is an ocean.”
- Trump has criticized Canadian officials, stating they have treated the U.S. “very badly” and called them “nasty people.”
- The lake is one of multiple Great Lakes that the U.S. and Canada share borders along.
- Trump's move to rename Lake Ontario is reminiscent of his previous action to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to rename Lake Ontario as 'Lake America', a move he claims is effective immediately. This decision comes amid heightened trade tensions with Canada, where Trump has imposed tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, prompting retaliatory measures from Canada.234
During the announcement, Trump stated, 'The Canadian officials have treated us very badly. They’re nasty people.' He further elaborated on his vision for U.S. waters, saying, 'We have a gulf and we have a lake. Now, all we need is an ocean.' He suggested that the names of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans might also be reconsidered, indicating a broader agenda of renaming geographical features.
The executive order updates the lake's name for the U.S. geographic naming service, although it cannot compel Canada to adopt the new name. Trump’s administration has been under scrutiny for its trade policies, which have strained relations with American allies, particularly Canada. The lake, which is shared between the U.S. and Canada, has been a focal point in the ongoing trade war, with Canada responding to U.S. tariffs by imposing its own on American goods.
Trump's previous attempt to rename the Gulf of Mexico as 'Gulf of America' reflects a pattern of his administration's approach to national identity and trade relations. As tensions continue, the implications of such name changes may resonate beyond mere geography, impacting diplomatic relations and public perception.
“The order, signed at the Resolute Desk, is part of an escalating trade war, with the US imposing tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian goods and Canada retaliating with tariffs on a similar amount. Trump's move echoes his renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America' last year.”
AP News
