Donald Trump orders renaming of Lake Ontario to Lake America

President Donald Trump has issued an executive order directing the federal government to rename Lake Ontario as ‘Lake America.’ The order instructs the Interior Department and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to implement the change within 30 days, affecting all federal maps, documents, and communications. The order does not mandate changes by Canada, international bodies, or private entities.

The White House cited the lake’s importance to U.S. shipping, energy, tourism, and drinking water as justification for the rebranding. This move follows a previous administration order that renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the ‘Gulf of America.’

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has rejected the decision, noting that the name ‘Ontario’ is derived from an Indigenous word that predates both nations. The renaming occurs amid a significant trade conflict; the United States recently imposed 50% tariffs on $27.6 billion of Canadian goods, with Canada preparing to implement matching tariffs on U.S. products, including steel, dairy, and electronics, starting September 8.