Donald Trump and Canada kept their exchange going on Saturday about the US government’s decision to rename Lake Ontario, as the country put up a huge sign that reads “Lake Ontario. Now and Always” – while the American president shared a video of him tearing down a version of that sign, putting up one that says Lake America, and dancing to YMCA.
The back-and-forth over Lake Ontario’s name is just the surface of a growing trade disagreement between the US and Canada involving a 50% US tariff on Canadian steel along with retaliatory tariffs from Ottawa.
Trump’s directive for US officials to start calling Lake Ontario Lake America by Sunday had at least one clear effect. Google Maps changed the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America for users in the US in line with the president’s executive order.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney firmly opposed the renaming, pointing out that Lake Ontario comes from an Indigenous Wendat term meaning “the lake is beautiful, the lake is great,” which has been around for more than 400 years.
Ontario premier unveils Lake Ontario sign in response to Trump’s ‘Lake America’ order – video
With negotiations to resolve the trade conflict stalled, Trump signed an executive order on Thursday telling US agencies that from now on, it would be called Lake America.
This situation brought back memories of an earlier dispute during his second presidency with Mexico when he ordered US agencies to call the Gulf of Mexico as Gulf of America.
“We’re going to be changing the name of Lake Ontario effective immediately to Lake America,” Trump told reporters before signing his executive order renaming this body of water among federal agencies in the US.
In explaining its response to Trump’s desired name change for Lake Ontario, Google said it aims to “reflect name changes in official government sources.” The president’s order affects the US’s federal Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), which “sets the standard for official US maps,” according to Google.
Lake Ontario renamed as Lake America on US-facing Google Maps. Photograph: Google Maps
Google stated that this change regarding Lake Ontario “does not have any impact on Canadian naming conventions or how the rest of the world refers to the lake.” It mentioned that “those in Canada will continue to see ‘Lake Ontario’” on Google Maps while “those outside.. the US and Canada will see both names.”
Google had previously done something similar when following Trump’s directive for federal agencies regarding referring to Gulf of Mexico as Gulf of America. Currently, users in the US see this body of water labeled as “Gulf of America.”
Meanwhile, on Saturday, President Trump cranked up his antics again by using AI-generated imagery he’s known for liking.
He shared a video featuring an army of Canadian geese sporting Trump-like blond hair shooting rifles in defense of what he calls Lake America. He also posted another clip showing himself kicking over a sign reading Lake Ontario and swapping it out with one saying Lake America while dancing along with YMCA by Village People-a song he’s incorporated into public appearances over many years.
On Canada’s side, Premier Doug Ford responded by unveiling a two-story high billboard stating “Lake Ontario. Now and Always,” near Grimsby, Ontario. Ford claimed Trump’s attempt at renaming was due to “Ontario and Canada standing up for ourselves,” arguing that this name would last long after Trump’s presidency is over.
“Long after President Trump is gone, it will still be called Lake Ontario,” Ford said in a social media video post.
In an earlier interview with Associated Press, Ford remarked that former President Ronald Reagan would be “throwing up” over Trump’s tariff policies.
At the same time, Manitoba’s Premier Wab Kinew described Trump’s move regarding ‘Lake America’ as similar to an aging rock band trying hard to revive old hits.
“You know when like a rock band is really over-the-hill and you see them playing some song from like 50 years ago? I think that’s where we are now with Donald Trump’s presidency,” Kinew noted. “Like he thought he had a real hit-a true classic-with Gulf of Mexico.”
“He’s trying hard to bring it back; he wants those familiar tunes for his supporters. But I think most folks here find it kinda sad and it’s not his finest work.”
Wendat Nation Grand Chief Pierre Picard condemned Trump’s actions as attempts at erasing Indigenous history. “I want him to understand it’s unacceptable for us as a nation having a president who can erase our history, culture, and identity,” Picard said.Lake Ontario ranks among North America’s five Great Lakes alongside Superior, Michigan Huron , and Erie. At 7 ,340 sq miles , it’s actually considered smallest based on surface area.
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