Trump signs executive order renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America amid tariff dispute
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America following the collapse of trade talks with Canada.
Executive order in the Oval Office
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in the Oval Office on Thursday renaming Lake Ontario as Lake America with immediate effect. The order instructs the Department of the Interior and Secretary Doug Burgum to update the federal Geographic Names Information System. Lake Ontario, the easternmost of the five Great Lakes of North America, borders the Canadian province of Ontario and the US state of New York. Trump stated during the ceremony that the administration had completed all necessary filings to establish the name across federal agencies. The order applies solely to domestic federal registries, as the US cannot compel Canada or international institutions to adopt the name.
- Bilateral trade talks between the US and Canada collapse after three days of negotiations.
- Donald Trump announces on social media that the administration is considering renaming Lake Ontario.
- Donald Trump signs an executive order directing the Interior Department to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America.
Breakdown of bilateral trade talks
The renaming follows the collapse of trade negotiations between the United States and Canada last week. Delegations ended three days of intensive talks without an agreement, with each side blaming the other for the impasse. Canadian officials withdrew after rejecting what they described as deal-breaking demands from Washington. Following the failed negotiations, the United States enacted tariffs and Canada responded with reciprocal levies on hundreds of products at rates of up to 50%. Trump also reissued threats to impose tariffs on automobiles manufactured in Canada.
Canada has been ripping us off for a long time on trade, very sadly. Even the military, you know, we defend Canada for nothing. We don't get anything.
Economic claims and bilateral relations
Trump criticized Canadian economic and defense policies, asserting that bilateral trade relations with Ontario would diminish. He stated that the US had incurred average annual losses exceeding $60 billion over the past 15 years in financial support to Canada. Trump previously published images on Truth Social portraying Canada as part of the United States and referred to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as governors. The office of Prime Minister Mark Carney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Both countries maintain defense commitments under the NATO alliance and cooperate through intelligence-sharing partnerships.
They want to be treated like a state, but they are not a state. Over the last 15 years, we have lost, on average, more than 60 billion dollars a year supporting Canada. So we can no longer continue like this.
Geographic renamings and maritime claims
The executive order follows a previous measure enacted last year that redesignated the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America for US federal agencies. During his Oval Office remarks on Thursday, Trump suggested extending geographical name changes to surrounding oceans.
We have a gulf, we have a lake. Now maybe we will have to change the name of the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Maybe we will change both.
The action coincides with broader territorial claims advanced by the administration. Trump has previously cited national security interests regarding Greenland and characterized the Strait of Hormuz as American territory in social media statements.
