U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Thursday renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America” amid escalating tensions with Canada. Trump, seated near a map displaying the new name, criticized Canada, calling them “entitled” and accusing them of unfair treatment towards the United States. He emphasized that despite Canada’s desire to be treated like a state, they are not one. Trump defended his actions against American allies by claiming they have not treated the U.S. well.
The strained relationship between the two countries worsened after trade negotiations collapsed recently, resulting in mutual accusations of last-minute changes. Prime Minister Mark Carney deemed the agreement unsustainable, leading to the unveiling of retaliatory measures by the Canadian government scheduled for September 8.
Trump initially threatened to rename the lake during a verbal dispute with Ontario Premier Doug Ford, where insults were exchanged. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, a former governor of North Dakota, supported the name change, stating that the nation’s bordering places and waters should reflect American greatness.
In response, Canadian officials expressed disbelief on social media over the decision. Carney affirmed that Canadians would continue to refer to the body of water as Lake Ontario, dismissing the renaming. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston criticized the move as “real foolishness,” emphasizing that it will always be Lake Ontario.
Meanwhile, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew likened the situation to an aging rock star playing outdated songs, describing it as a phase in Trump’s presidency. Lake Ontario, one of the Great Lakes situated between Ontario and New York, derived its name from the Huron Indigenous people’s term “oniatarÃ:io,” meaning “lake of shining waters.” Carney pointed out the lake’s centuries-old name predates the formation of both Canada and the U.S. as countries.
This action mirrors Trump’s previous executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, impacting official U.S. documents and some online mapping services. The controversy surrounding this decision led to a conflict between the White House and The Associated Press, resulting in the news agency’s exclusion from certain presidential coverage duties.