Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Trump Orders Lake Ontario Renamed Lake America
President Donald Trump ordered the United States government to call Lake Ontario “Lake America.”
The new name would be used on federal maps, documents, contracts and communications.
Officials have 30 days to begin completing the change.
The order does not require Canada, Ontario, international groups or private map companies to use the new name.
Lake Ontario is shared by the United States and Canada.
Trump said the United States helps protect the Great Lakes and keeps shipping routes open.
He also pointed to American spending on the lakes and their importance to jobs, energy and drinking water.
Canada’s investment was described as much lower, but the order did not give Canadian figures.
The lake’s water flows into the St Lawrence River and then to the Atlantic Ocean.
President Donald Trump ordered US federal agencies to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America.”
The Interior secretary must complete the process within 30 days with the Board on Geographic Names.
The change applies only to US federal usage and does not require Canada or private mapmakers to adopt it.
Trump cited US investment, shipping support, economic importance and historical ties to the lake.
The lake is shared by the United States and Canada, with the international border running through it.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump, the US Interior secretary and the federal Board on Geographic Names.
- What
- An executive order directs US federal usage of the name “Lake Ontario” to be changed to “Lake America.”
- When
- The Interior secretary and the Board on Geographic Names must complete the process within 30 days of the order.
- Where
- Lake Ontario, which is shared by the United States and Canada, and in US federal records and communications.
- Why
- Trump cited the lake’s economic, shipping, environmental, historical and national importance, along with US investment and protection of the Great Lakes.
- Proposed name
- Lake America
- Current name
- Lake Ontario
- Implementation deadline
- Within 30 days
- Federal database
- The Geographic Names Information System
- US Great Lakes investment
- Nearly $4 billion over the past decade, according to Trump
- Ice-breaking vessels
- The US Coast Guard operates nine of the Great Lakes’ 11 ice-breaking vessels, according to Trump
- International status
- The lake is shared by the United States and Canada, with the border running through it