WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to rename Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' in the United States amid ongoing trade tensions with Canada. The order directs the Interior Department to update the lake’s name in the U.S. geographic naming service. However, the change does not extend to Canada, which will continue to recognize the lake by its original name.
The announcement comes as the U.S. imposed 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods following stalled trade negotiations. Trump has previously suggested that Canada should be treated as the '51st state.' In response to the U.S. tariffs, Canada announced retaliatory tariffs on an equal value of American goods, including steel and dairy products.
During the signing at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, Trump was flanked by a large sign displaying a map of the Great Lakes with 'Lake America' highlighted in red. He stated that he had 'notified all of the various people that we have to notify' and declared the order effective immediately, though the executive order specifies that changes should be implemented within 30 days.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized the name change, emphasizing the lake's Indigenous heritage and asserting that it has been known as Lake Ontario historically. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston also dismissed the move, calling it 'real foolishness.' Ontario Premier Doug Ford referred to Trump's comments as 'a lot of rhetoric.'
The name Lake Ontario originates from the Huron Indigenous word 'oniatarí:io,' meaning 'lake of shining waters.' Trump stated that his action was not intended to convey a geopolitical message but expressed concerns about trade relations with Canada. He suggested that his efforts to rename bodies of water may continue, hinting at potential future changes to the names of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.