Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has asserted that Lake Ontario will retain its name, directly countering an order from U.S. President Donald Trump to rename it "Lake America." Carney took to the social media platform X to state that the lake's name is immutable, calling it "Lake Ontario – today and forever."
Carney highlighted that the name "Lake Ontario" is over 400 years old, predating both the Confederation of Canada and the U.S. Declaration of Independence. He noted that the name derives from the Wendat word "Ontari’io," meaning "the lake is beautiful, the lake is big." He acknowledged potential shifts in American policies, trade, and national symbols but insisted on the permanence of the lake's established name.
Carney's response, also posted in French, was widely praised on social media, with many users commending his stance against what they perceived as an unwarranted directive. Some reactions focused on the perceived embarrassment for the United States in having its leader's renaming effort publicly challenged by a foreign counterpart.