President Donald Trump has signed an executive order officially renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America," a move that escalates his ongoing trade dispute with Canada.
"I guess the purpose of this, more than anything else, is we're going to be changing the name of Lake Ontario, effective immediately to Lake America. That's going to take place right now as I sign the order," Trump stated in the Oval Office. He added that he has contemplated this name change for a "long time."
The executive order directs Secretary Burgum and the Department of the Interior to update the Geographic Names Information Service to reflect the official name change. Trump asserted that most of the lake's territory is within U.S. borders. Lake Ontario straddles the U.S.-Canada border, with New York state on its southern and eastern shores and the Canadian province of Ontario to the north. For over a century, the lake has been jointly managed under the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty, rather than being controlled outright by either nation.
This action follows an announcement on Monday of a new 50 percent tariff on Canadian cars and automotive parts, set to take effect on January 1. The tariff increase was announced after the two countries failed to reach a trade deal on Friday, leading to a tense exchange between Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
When asked about the message the renaming sends to Canada, Trump criticized Canadian leadership regarding defense spending and economic disputes. "We defend Canada for nothing. We don't get anything. They don't pay us to defend Canada, but we defend Canada, and they understand that," Trump said. He also cited Canada's reliance on U.S. cross-border equipment, noting the U.S. purchase of new icebreakers that Canada wishes to use without contributing to the cost.
Trump described Canadian negotiators as the most difficult and unreasonable trade partners globally, alleging they charge American farmers 400 percent tariffs. "Canadian officials have treated us very badly. They're nasty people," he stated. He dismissed concerns about broader economic affordability, asserting that the changes would ultimately be beneficial as the U.S. loses an average of $62 billion annually in trade with Canada.
Prime Minister Carney had previously claimed that the U.S. made demands targeting French-language protections and Quebec culture during tariff negotiations. Trump also alluded to potential future name changes for the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, referencing a previous renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America."