Pennsylvania State Representative David Maloney has urged President Donald Trump to rename Lake Erie to Lake Pennsylvania. This appeal comes weeks after Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America. Maloney stated that Lake Erie is Pennsylvania's only Great Lake and its identity is increasingly connected to recreational activities and tourism.
Maloney suggested that renaming Lake Erie would better reflect its modern economic and cultural ties to the state. He pointed out that Pennsylvania has a relatively small portion of Lake Erie's shoreline, approximately 75 miles, compared to Ohio's 316 miles and Michigan's 32.5 miles. Canada shares the other half of the lake.
The executive order to rename Lake Ontario does not compel Canada or international bodies to adopt the new name, and states are permitted to disregard it. Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, have criticized the renaming of Lake Ontario, highlighting its indigenous Wendat name which signifies "the lake is beautiful, the lake is great."
Trump's decision to rename Lake Ontario occurred amidst a trade war with Canada. The President has expressed optimism about reaching a trade agreement soon, stating that Canada needs to improve its treatment of American farmers.
Lake Erie, the smallest Great Lake by volume, is 241 miles long and has 871 miles of shoreline. It acquired its name from the Native American Erie tribe who inhabited the southern shores when Europeans first arrived in the early 1600s. The lake was also the site of the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813, a significant American naval victory during the War of 1812.
Trump has also previously threatened to rename the U.S. state of New Mexico to New America, a proposal that met opposition from Democratic lawmakers.