Who gets to name a lake? What to know about Trump's renaming of Lake Ontario
Trump’s order would apply only to U.S. federal usage and has already prompted pushback from Canadian officials.
- On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America, effective immediately following his announcement on Truth Social two days prior that he was "giving serious consideration" to the idea.
- Amid escalating trade tensions, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Trump exchanged personal insults earlier this week, with the president claiming Canada was "ripping off" the United States and stating he does not expect to continue doing business with Ontario "much longer."
- Historians believe Lake Ontario's name has Iroquoian roots meaning "beautiful lake" or "sparkling water," with Europeans beginning to use the designation in 1641 and maps displaying it by 1656, predating Canada itself.
- Canada does not have to recognize name changes made by other countries; The Geographical Names Board, formed in 1897, has approved more than 350,000 place names but cannot be compelled to accept Trump's directive.
- Trump previously signed executive orders renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" and reverting North America's tallest peak to Mount McKinley, moves that only held authority within the United States despite the Gulf carrying its name for more than 400 years.
90 Articles
90 Articles
Brampton Mayor Calls Trump's Lake Ontario Rename 'A Bit Preposterous' as Canada Vows To Ignore Any Action
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown has dismissed President Donald Trump's executive order to rename Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' as 'a bit preposterous', saying Canadians will ignore the directive. The decree, which requires US federal agencies to adopt the new name for the easternmost Great Lake, has met immediate opposition from Canadian officials, who insist the historic name will remain. Mayor Brown said the only person who would struggle with t…
Lake Ontario connects the United States and Canada - but at the moment a dispute divides the two neighbors. US President Trump is now causing further trouble in Canada with a name change.
Amid a trade dispute with Ottawa, the US president signed an executive order Thursday designating Lake Ontario, which borders Canada, as "Lake of America." Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney immediately rejected the new name, which has no international recognition.
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