President Donald Trump signed an executive order on August 27, 2026, renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America during a news conference in the Oval Office. The name change is effective immediately. Trump stated that the decision was influenced by the trade relationship between the US and Canada, claiming that Canada has been unfair in its dealings with the US. He described Canadian officials as having treated the US poorly.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded to the order on social media, asserting that the lake should continue to be referred to as Lake Ontario. He noted that the naming reflects the historical and cultural significance of the term.
The executive order follows a breakdown in trade negotiations between the two countries, which occurred shortly before a deadline to avoid significant tariffs on Canadian goods. In retaliation, Canada has imposed taxes on approximately 700 US products.
This is not the first instance of Trump renaming geographical features; in January 2025, he renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Trump justified that change by emphasizing the gulf's importance to the US. Despite these changes, many countries, including Mexico, do not recognize the new names.
Critics, including some Republicans, have condemned the renaming, with former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie calling it childish. Others have expressed similar sentiments, indicating that the focus should be on more pressing national issues.
During the signing, Trump suggested that there may be future name changes for other bodies of water, including the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.