Trump renames Lake Ontario 'Lake America' amid trade dispute with Canada

President Donald Trump has officially renamed Lake Ontario as "Lake America" within the United States, signing an executive order to change its designation in the U.S. geographic naming service. This symbolic act escalates an ongoing trade dispute between the U.S. and Canada.

The renaming follows the U.S. imposition of 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods after trade talks broke down. Canada responded with retaliatory tariffs on $20 billion of American products, including steel and agricultural goods.

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Canada's been ripping us off for a long time.

While Trump cannot compel Canada to adopt the new name, he has been critical of the trade relationship, stating that Canada has been "ripping us off." He suggested that Canada's representatives are not doing an appropriate job, though he expressed affection for the Canadian people.

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We're into some real foolishness now. It's Lake Ontario, buddy.

Canadian officials largely dismissed the move. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston called it "foolishness," and Ontario Premier Doug Ford characterized it as "rhetoric." The name "Ontario" itself originates from the Huron Indigenous word "oniatarí:io," meaning "lake of shining waters."

This action is reminiscent of Trump's previous move to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America." The president signed the order at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, with maps behind him proclaiming "MAKING THE GREAT LAKES EVEN GREATER."

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a lot of rhetoric.