Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ignited a wave of conservative criticism on social media after publicly stating, "It's Lake Ontario," in response to President Donald Trump's executive order to rename the body of water 'Lake America.' The renaming order came amidst an escalating trade dispute between the United States and Canada.
Clinton's post on X, formerly Twitter, quickly garnered millions of views and drew sharp retorts from prominent conservatives. Critics, many referencing her past presidential campaigns, suggested her comment was out of touch or politically motivated. The Republican National Committee posted, "It’s President Donald J. Trump," while others, like Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., commented, "And you’ll never be President."
Conservative commentator Tricia McLaughlin noted, "Trump Controls the News Cycle Volume 87187585124782," a sentiment echoed by others who suggested Clinton was engaging in ineffective political commentary. Radio host Vince Coglianese posted, "Hillary's out here shooting blanks."
Trump's decision to rename Lake Ontario, which borders both the U.S. and Canada, followed his accusations of unfair trade practices by Ottawa. The U.S. had recently imposed new 50% tariffs on Canadian goods, including wine, furniture, and dairy products. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that the U.S. demands aimed to "destroy our major industries," such as automotive, steel, and aluminum.
Trump defended the trade actions, asserting, "Canada has been ripping us off for a long time on trade." He also pointed to the defense relationship, stating, "We defend Canada for nothing. We don't get anything. They don't pay us to defend Canada."
This is not the first time Trump has used geographic names for political statements. In January 2025, he ordered the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, a move he referenced in the Oval Office. "The Lake of America was something I've been thinking about for a long time, actually," Trump said, drawing a parallel to the earlier renaming of the Gulf of Mexico.
Several Democratic officials, including New York Governor Kathy Hochul, have publicly stated that their states, bordering the lake, will not adopt the new designation. Hochul indicated that New York, which borders the southern side of the lake, "won't be calling it that."