U.S. President Donald Trump has issued an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America” amid escalating tensions with Canada. Trump, sitting next to a map displaying the new name, criticized Canada for being difficult to deal with and accused the country of taking advantage of the United States. He emphasized that despite Canada’s desires, it is not a state.
In response to questions regarding his actions against American allies rather than adversaries, Trump asserted that Canadian officials have mistreated the U.S., referring to them as “nasty people.” The dispute between the two nations intensified following the breakdown of trade negotiations, with both sides accusing each other of last-minute alterations to agreements.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, formerly the governor of North Dakota, expressed pride in the name change, stating that American borders and waters should reflect the nation’s greatness. Meanwhile, Canadian officials reacted with disbelief on social media, reaffirming their commitment to referring to the body of water as Lake Ontario.
This move follows a similar action by Trump last year, when he renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America through an executive order. Although the change only impacts U.S. federal documents and services, some online mapping services adopted the new name. The controversy surrounding these changes led to a dispute with The Associated Press, resulting in the news agency being excluded from certain White House coverage duties.
