President Donald Trump has issued an executive order to rename Lake Ontario to “Lake America” amid escalating tensions with Canada. Trump, sitting beside a map labeling the body of water as “Lake America,” criticized Canada as being uncooperative and accused the country of taking advantage of the United States.
Trump emphasized that Canada is not a state and expressed dissatisfaction with how the country has treated the U.S. He defended his actions by stating that American allies like Canada have not been fair in their dealings with the United States.
The strained relations between the two nations intensified following the breakdown of trade negotiations. Both sides have accused each other of making last-minute changes to agreements. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the situation as untenable, leading to the unveiling of retaliatory measures by the Canadian government.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, a former governor of North Dakota, supported the name change, stating that national landmarks should reflect the greatness of the United States. However, Canadian officials reacted with disbelief, asserting that the body of water will continue to be called Lake Ontario.
Notably, this move echoes a previous decision by Trump to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. While the name change only applies to U.S. federal documents and services, it sparked a similar controversy. The White House faced backlash for its handling of the situation, including a dispute with The Associated Press over the usage of the new name.
Lake Ontario, one of the Great Lakes situated between Ontario and New York, derives its name from the Huron Indigenous people’s term “oniatarí:io,” meaning “lake of shining waters.” Carney highlighted the historical significance of the name, which predates the establishment of both Canada and the U.S. as countries.