Trump Signs Order Seeking To Rename Lake Ontario ‘Lake America’

Trump Signs Order Seeking to Rename Lake Ontario ‘Lake America’

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order seeking to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America”, in the latest move by his administration to change the names of prominent geographical features. The lake, one of North America’s Great Lakes, lies along the border between the United States and Canada, making the proposed name change particularly sensitive amid worsening relations between the two countries. Trump signed the order on Thursday, August 27, 2026, directing his administration to begin using the name Lake America in US federal references. The move comes against the backdrop of an escalating trade dispute between Washington and Ottawa. The order does not automatically change what the lake is called in Canada or internationally. It primarily affects the way the US federal government refers to the body of water, meaning Canadian authorities and other countries are not required to adopt the new name. The decision comes as tensions between Trump and the Canadian government have intensified over trade and tariffs. Trump has repeatedly criticised Canada over its trade policies and has taken a series of actions that have strained relations between the neighbouring countries. The Lake Ontario announcement follows his earlier decision to change the US government’s name for the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.Trump has also suggested that he could seek further geographical name changes, including potentially renaming the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean. The proposed renaming has attracted criticism in Canada, where officials have stressed the historical significance of the name Lake Ontario. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has pointed out that the lake’s name predates both the United States and modern Canada. Indigenous representatives have also criticised the proposed change, arguing that replacing the historical name risks erasing an important part of the region’s cultural history. The executive order does not give the US government the power to force Canada or international organisations to recognise “Lake America” as the lake’s official international name. Instead, US federal agencies are expected to update their references and maps in accordance with the order. The move has also prompted debate among mapping companies and other private organisations over whether they should adopt the proposed name. Some companies have indicated that they may continue using Lake Ontario, highlighting the distinction between a US federal naming decision and international or private usage. The controversy is likely to add another layer to the already tense relationship between the United States and Canada, while raising broader questions about the extent to which a national government can alter internationally recognised geographical names.