President Donald Trump has ordered the US government to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America,” adding a symbolic dispute with Canada to an escalating trade conflict between the two countries.
Trump signed the order at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, where a map of the Great Lakes displayed “Lake America” over Lake Ontario. Another map carried the message, “Making the Great Lakes Even Greater.”
The smallest of the Great Lakes lies between New York and Canada. While the executive order calls for the name change to take effect immediately, administrative steps within the US government are still required to update official geographic records.
Trump has promoted the idea in recent days as relations with Canada have deteriorated over trade. The US announced 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods after trade talks broke down.
Canada responded with tariffs covering $20 billion in American products, including steel, dairy goods, appliances and farm equipment.
Trump has repeatedly criticized Canada since returning to the White House and has suggested the country could become the 51st US state. During the signing, he said Canada has been difficult to deal with on trade.
The move has also drawn criticism from Republicans. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine called the tariffs on Canada a mistake earlier this week.
Trump previously ordered the US government to use “Gulf of America” instead of Gulf of Mexico, showing that geographic renaming has become part of his broader policy agenda.
The US can change the name used by its federal agencies, but Canada is not obligated to adopt “Lake America.”
