Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Trump Orders Lake Ontario Renamed Lake America Amid Canada Tensions
President Donald Trump signed an order telling U.S. federal offices to use the name Lake America for Lake Ontario.
He said the change should happen right away, but the order reportedly allows 30 days for officials to make the updates.
The order only controls how the U.S. federal government refers to the lake.
It cannot make Canada or international organizations use the new name.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the lake should remain Lake Ontario.
Leaders in Ontario and New York also rejected the change.
The lake is shared by Canada and the United States, and about 52% of its surface is in Canada.
The naming dispute happened while the two countries were arguing over trade and tariffs.
President Donald Trump signed an order directing U.S. federal agencies to call Lake Ontario “Lake America.”
Trump said the change was effective immediately, while the order reportedly gives officials 30 days to implement it.
The order applies to U.S. federal usage and cannot require Canada, international bodies, or other organizations to adopt the name.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul rejected the proposed name.
The announcement came amid collapsed U.S.-Canada trade talks and retaliatory tariffs on billions of dollars in goods.
- Who
- U.S. President Donald Trump, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
- What
- Trump signed an order directing U.S. federal agencies to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America” for federal use.
- When
- Thursday; Trump described the change as effective immediately, while the order reportedly sets a 30-day implementation period.
- Where
- At the White House, concerning Lake Ontario, which is shared by Canada and the United States and borders New York.
- Why
- The announcement came amid worsening U.S.-Canada relations after trade talks collapsed and both countries imposed tariffs.
U.S. Administration’s Position
Canadian and Regional Opposition
Whether the name should change
U.S. Administration’s Position
Trump said Lake Ontario would be renamed Lake America and described the change as effective immediately.
Canadian and Regional Opposition
Carney, Ford, and Hochul said they would continue calling it Lake Ontario.
Authority over the lake’s name
U.S. Administration’s Position
The order directs the U.S. Department of the Interior and other federal authorities to update the name for U.S. government use.
Canadian and Regional Opposition
The order cannot compel Canada, international organizations, or other groups to use Lake America.
Cause of the trade-talks breakdown
U.S. Administration’s Position
U.S. officials characterized Carney’s rejection of a proposed deal as a political choice.
Canadian and Regional Opposition
Carney said negotiations faltered over issues including French-language rules, tariff relief for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, and Canada’s ability to make new trade agreements.
- Existing name
- Lake Ontario
- Proposed U.S. federal name
- Lake America
- Scope
- The order concerns U.S. federal usage and does not govern Canada, international bodies, or other organizations.
- Implementation
- Trump said the change was effective immediately; the order reportedly gives officials 30 days to make the updates.
- Geographic division
- About 52% of the lake’s surface area is in Canada, with the remainder in New York.
- U.S. tariffs
- Reports said the United States imposed 50% duties on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods.
- Canadian response
- Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, with reported rates ranging from 15% to 50% and coverage including steel, dairy products, appliances, and farm equipment.
Sources
Trump signs executive order to rename 'Lake Ontario' as 'Lake America' amid tensions with Canada
Lake Ontario's Name To Remain "Now And Always": Canada's Carney Slams Trump
US President Donald Trump renames Lake Ontario as 'Lake America', Canada rejects move - Telegraph India
"Canadian Officials Are Nasty": Trump Renames Lake Ontario To "Lake America"
Trump signs order to rename Lake Ontario as ‘Lake America’ amid Canada tensions
