WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he is changing the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America” in the United States as part of his ongoing trade conflict with Canada.
The Republican president signed an executive order instructing the Interior Department to revise the lake’s name in the U. S. geographic naming service. However, Trump can’t make Canada adopt his preferred name.
Trump has been hinting at this name change recently after the U. S. declared it would impose 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods over the weekend following failed negotiations between the two countries. Since returning to office last year, Trump has been poking fun at America’s northern neighbor, suggesting that they should be treated like a 51st state.
In response to Trump’s import duties this week, Canada announced retaliatory tariffs on $20 billion worth of American products including steel, dairy items, appliances, and agricultural equipment.
While signing the order at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, Trump had a large sign behind him displaying a map of the Great Lakes. Over Lake Ontario, bold red letters read “Lake America.”
Next to him was another map stating “MAKING THE GREAT LAKES EVEN GREATER.”
As he signed the order, Trump mentioned that he’d “notified all of the various people that we have to notify. So, we’ve done everything that you have to do.”
“And this is official, effective immediately,” he added.
However, Trump’s executive order indicates that changes are meant to take effect within 30 days.
Canadian officials brushed off Trump’s action.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney rejected it by referencing the lake’s Indigenous heritage and pointing out that its name predates both Canadian Confederation and the U. S. Declaration of Independence.
“Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario – then, now and always,” he wrote.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who has exchanged barbs with Trump previously, posted on X: “It’s Lake Ontario to Canadians and the rest of the world. Now and forever.”
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston remarked, “We’re into some real foolishness now. It’s Lake Ontario, buddy.”
The lake is one of several Great Lakes shared by both nations. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat from a state bordering on the lake, responded on X to White House’s announcement stating that “New York won’t be calling it that.”
No single international organization decides names for bodies of water shared between countries; however, Trump has broad authority over how geographical places are recognized within U. S. governance.
The term Lake Ontario comes from an Indigenous Huron word “oniatarí: io,” meaning “lake of shining waters.” The province named Ontario was established in 1867 and took its name from this lake.
Trump claimed that while his action wasn’t intended as any particular geopolitical statement, “Canada’s been ripping us off for a long time” regarding trade and military matters. p >
“They wanted to be treated like a state and they’re not a state,” said Trump. “We just can’t do that anymore.” p >
“We love the people of Canada,” he continued. “I don’t think their representatives do an appropriate job. Maybe they’ll change; I really don’t know. It doesn’t make much difference.” p >
This move is similar to his previous effort last year when he renamed Gulf of Mexico as “Gulf of America.” p >
Trump signed his name with a Sharpie pen on the executive order before holding it up for cameras while saying,“And we filed all necessary papers , documents , everything else. ” p >
He also hinted there might be more renaming efforts ahead regarding bodies of water. p >
“So if you think about it , we have gulf , we have lake. Now all we need is ocean , ” said Trump. “ So maybe we’ll have to change names Atlantic or /and Pacific. Maybe we’ll change them. ” p >
Associated Press writer Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report. p >
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