Trump Signs Executive Order to Rename Lake Ontario to Lake America

On August 28, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America amid ongoing trade tensions with Canada. The lake, which is located on the border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York, has historically been known as Lake Ontario, a name derived from the Huron Indigenous word 'oniatarí:io,' meaning 'lake of shining waters.' During a news conference, Trump stated that the name change was something he had been considering for a long time, linking it to perceived unfair treatment by Canadian officials. However, the executive order specifies that the Secretary of the Interior will take 30 days to work on the name change with the Board on Geographic Names. Experts have expressed skepticism about the impact of the name change on U.S.-Canada relations, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and other officials dismissing the order. Carney emphasized that the name has historical significance and will continue to be recognized as Lake Ontario. The U.S. Board on Geographic Names has a procedure for name changes but does not enforce them internationally. As a result, while Trump can officially rename the lake, other countries and organizations are not obligated to adopt the new name. This situation mirrors previous naming disputes in international contexts, such as the Sea of Japan and the East Sea, highlighting the complexities of geographic nomenclature.