Former President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he had ordered Lake Ontario to be renamed "Lake America," citing an ongoing trade dispute with Canada. The move, which Trump stated was effective immediately, has been met with defiance from New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
"Governor Kathy Hochul is for Canada," Trump stated on the social media platform Truth Social. "A Country that has been ripping off New York State for years, especially under her Administration, instead of the good ‘ol USA."
Lake Ontario, which borders New York for approximately 250 miles, was the subject of Trump's proclamation amid escalating trade tensions with Canada. Shortly after Trump signed the order, Hochul responded via X, stating, "New York won’t be calling it that."
Trump criticized Hochul's refusal to recognize the new name, asserting that the governor "doesn't care about New York" and is allowing Canada to gain an advantage. "She doesn't want us to use the name, ‘Lake America,’ she’d rather have Canada get a win," Trump wrote. He further characterized Canada's trade practices as targeting New York specifically, calling Hochul "Weak and Ineffective."
In a separate Truth Social post, Trump referred to Hochul as "stupid" and suggested that Canada's tariffs are aimed at her administration because of perceived weakness. He concluded his posts by endorsing Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, urging New Yorkers to vote for him in the upcoming election. Trump described Blakeman as someone who "fights like hell" and will "Lower your Taxes, and Stop Crime."
The New York Governor's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Trump's statements. The name change initiative by Trump is part of a broader strategy to leverage trade disputes through symbolic actions, impacting regions and bodies of water that share borders or economic ties with the United States and its trading partners.