President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing federal agencies to officially rename Lake Ontario to “Lake America” within the United States.
The move comes during an escalating trade dispute between the two nations. After cross-border negotiations broke down over the weekend, the U.S. imposed 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian imports. Canada answered by placing retaliatory tariffs on $20 billion worth of American goods, targeting products such as steel, dairy, home appliances, and agricultural equipment.
Trump signed the document at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. Displayed beside him were large maps of the Great Lakes; one labeled the body of water “Lake America” in bold red text, while the other carried the slogan, “MAKING THE GREAT LAKES EVEN GREATER.”
During the signing, Trump criticized Canada’s approach to trade negotiations.
“They feel entitled and we can’t have that,” Trump told reporters, adding that Canada is “the worst” to deal with on trade matters.
The executive order directs the Secretary of the Interior and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to update federal records, maps, contracts, and the Geographic Names Information System within 30 days. The order states the change is “effective immediately” for U.S. federal usage. U.S. presidential orders cannot alter geographic naming designations within Canada or under international law.
The text of the order cites U.S. economic and security contributions to the region, noting that the U.S. Coast Guard operates nine of the 11 icebreaking vessels on the Great Lakes and pointing to roughly $4 billion in American conservation spending over the past decade. It also emphasizes the lake’s shipping channels, power-generation facilities, and historical role in regional manufacturing.
The name change follows Trump’s directive last year renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” On Thursday, the president indicated that additional changes could follow.
“So, if you think about it, we have a gulf and we have a lake. Now, all we need is an ocean,” Trump said. “So maybe we’ll have to change the name of the Atlantic and or the Pacific. Maybe we’ll change them.”
Lake Ontario borders the state of New York to the south and the Canadian province of Ontario to the north, with the international border running through the water. Ontario serves as the top export market for more than a dozen U.S. states. The name “Ontario” originates from the Huron word “oniatarí:io,” translating to “lake of shining waters.”
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