Trump orders Lake Ontario renamed 'Lake America' amid trade dispute with Canada

In a move that further strains U.S.-Canada relations amid an escalating trade war, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario as 'Lake America.' The announcement was made Thursday at the White House.

Trump stated that the renaming would be effective immediately. Flanking him were maps of the U.S.-Canada border, with "Lake America" prominently displayed over the lake. When questioned about targeting an ally, Trump responded, "Canadian officials have treated us very badly. They are disagreeable people."

He further elaborated on his trade frustrations, saying, "People often ask me, 'Who is it harder to negotiate with on trade?' And I say, Canada. They are the worst to trade with."

Canada has not yet formally responded to the name change, but it is unlikely to accept the alteration of Lake Ontario, the smallest of the Great Lakes by surface area. The lake borders New York state and the Canadian province of Ontario. This action follows the collapse of trade negotiations and the imposition of new U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports, which Canada met with retaliatory duties.

This unilateral renaming mirrors Trump's earlier action of changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on his first day in office in January 2025. Mexico has rejected this change, and it lacks international recognition. Trump also alluded to potentially renaming the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.