President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he has signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America" as a trade dispute with Canada escalates. Trump declared the change effective immediately in a statement from the Oval Office.
"We’re going to be changing the name of Lake Ontario, effective immediately, to Lake America," Trump told reporters. He asserted that all necessary papers and documents had been filed and relevant parties notified.
Trump characterized Canadian officials as "nasty people" who are imposing substantial tariffs on American farmers, citing a 400% tariff rate. This action follows a previous renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America" last year.
"If you think about it, we have a gulf and we have a lake. Now, all we need is an ocean. So maybe we’ll have to change the name of the Atlantic and/or the Pacific," Trump remarked.
The White House released a map illustrating the proposed new names for the Great Lakes, including the designation of Lake America.
The executive order and renaming initiative appear to be part of an escalating trade conflict between the United States and Canada.