President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America, amid ongoing trade tensions with Canada.
The Executive Order states that “the United States is the greatest protector of the Great Lakes, including the body of water currently known as Lake Ontario.”
“Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) shall, in coordination with the Board on Geographic Names and consistent with […] take all appropriate actions to rename as ‘Lake America’ the body of water currently named as Lake Ontario, bounded on the south and east by the State of New York, and on the north, west, and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario,” the order states.
.@POTUS: "Canada has been ripping us off for a long time on trade... They want to be treated like a state, but they're not a state... We just can't do that anymore." https://t.co/Cj01PCOkSm pic.twitter.com/OZVlpdIYPi
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 27, 2026
The action has been floated for days now, especially after the trade deal with Canada fell apart earlier this week. Ontario Premier Doug Ford even floated the possibility of cutting off “critical minerals” trade with the United States and impacting the country’s energy grid.
INCREDIBLE: President Trump signs an order officially changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Le63gKgVYl
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) August 27, 2026
“Canada has been ripping us off for a long time on trade, very sadly, even the military, you know, we defend Canada for nothing,” Trump said during an Oval Office signing ceremony.
“And they want to be treated like a state, but they're not a state,” he continued.
After the deal fell apart, 50% tariffs on some goods went into effect against Canada, and more 50% tariffs in the auto sector will go into effect starting in January. In response, the country matched it with similar tariffs, according to the New York Times.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called tariffs by the U.S. "unjustified" in a Tuesday post.
"In the face of unjustified American tariffs, Canadians have shown resolve, purpose, and strength," he wrote on X. "The government is matching that spirit — protecting Canadian workers, businesses, and families."
In the face of unjustified American tariffs, Canadians have shown resolve, purpose, and strength.
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) August 25, 2026
The government is matching that spirit — protecting Canadian workers, businesses, and families. pic.twitter.com/kSqYUNw8ad
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