Legendary NFL announcer Al Michaels, 81, offered a pointed commentary on President Donald Trump's recent actions during his return to the broadcast booth for the first time this season. Michaels, now in his 41st year of play-by-play, made the remarks on Amazon Prime Video during an NFL preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns.
As an overhead camera displayed Huntington Bank Field, situated next to Lake Erie, Michaels quipped about the Great Lakes' names. "That is Lake Erie. We think it is still called Lake Erie... We're not quite sure at this point," he said. He continued, "But we'll be by Lake something like Ontario or whatever it's going to be called by the time we get to Buffalo. Anyway, you know what I'm talking about... Read the news."
Michaels' comments came shortly after President Trump signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' as part of an escalating trade dispute with Canada. A map displayed in the Oval Office during the signing showed Lake Ontario labeled as 'Lake America', with another map bearing the slogan "MAKING THE GREAT LAKES EVEN GREATER."
Trump stated that he had officially notified all necessary parties and that the order was effective immediately. The move was swiftly rejected by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who emphasized the lake's Indigenous roots and its historical name predating both Canadian Confederation and the U.S. Declaration of Independence. "Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario — then, now and always," Carney responded.
Michaels is set to call his first regular season game on September 19, when Thursday Night Football begins with the Detroit Lions facing the Buffalo Bills near Lake Ontario.
Earlier in the broadcast, Michaels and his broadcast partner Kirk Herbstreit discussed the Cleveland Browns' quarterback situation. Michaels noted the ongoing controversy surrounding Deshaun Watson being named the starter for the regular season, suggesting the town's reaction was "slightly less than thrilling." Herbstreit expressed surprise but pointed to Watson's experience and the need for "smart football" under new head coach Todd Monken as potential factors in the decision.