President Donald Trump floated the idea of renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America” as trade tensions between the United States and Canada intensified, according to The Associated Press. Trump posted on Truth Social that the U.S. is giving serious consideration to the name change because it does not expect to be doing much business with Ontario any longer. The proposal was introduced hours before Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was scheduled to announce reciprocal tariffs on U.S. imports, as reported by KSAT.
Trump Proposes Renaming Lake Ontario Amid Escalating Trade War With Canada
The trade dispute escalated over the weekend when the Trump administration imposed 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods following a breakdown in negotiations. These measures built upon lower tariffs initially implemented in 2025 after Trump’s second presidency began. In response, Carney stated that U.S. trade demands aimed to destroy major Canadian industries, including autos, steel, and aluminum.
Geographic Stakes and Precedent of Executive Actions
Lake Ontario spans the U.S.-Canada border, with its northern portion located in Ontario and its southern portion in New York. While Trump possesses wide latitude over how the U.S. government recognizes geographic landmarks, there is no single international body that determines the names of international bodies of water. Canada would likely not recognize a unilateral name change by the United States.
Following the social media post regarding Lake Ontario, the White House published a toy Lego map on social media labeling the Gulf of Mexico with Trump's preferred name.
Historical Roots of the Lake’s Name
The name Ontario has deep indigenous roots, predating European settlement in the region. According to Michael Galban, director of the Seneca Art and Culture Center at Ganondagan State Historic Site, the name originates from Seneca or Haudenosaunee terms meaning a beautiful lake.
Other accounts note the name derives from the Huron Indigenous people’s word “oniatarí:io,” meaning lake of shining waters.
The province of Ontario took its name from the lake when it was founded in 1867, and the English name Lake Ontario dates back to at least the 1600s, while the French previously referred to it as Lac de St. Louis.
Public Reaction on Both Sides of the Border
Reactions to the renaming proposal varied sharply between residents in Canada and the United States:
- Patricia Wiseman (Ontario resident): Panned the idea, stating, “
He can blow out his hole as much as he wants to, but it’s never going to happen, because Canadians are strong,
” as The Associated Press reported. - Doug Ford (Ontario Premier): Dismissed the threat as rhetoric and urged both countries to resume negotiations, acknowledging in a CNN interview that the dispute had grown personal and was hurting both economies.
- Jim Fetterhoff (Port Ontario, NY resident and fisherman): Expressed support for the idea, citing Canadian tariffs on dairy and other products and stating, “
I like it. Absolutely. Because I like America, and right now Canada’s not treating us very nicely.
” - Joseph Hernandez (Rochester, NY resident): Criticized the move while bass fishing near Rochester, noting that changing the name makes no sense and that there are more pressing issues to address.
- Craig Hertel (New York resident): Described the rebrand attempt as hokey and a disingenuous patriotism meant to distract from climate change and the economy.
