US President Renames Lake Ontario to "Lake America"
US President Renames Lake Ontario to "Lake America"
Updated at: August 28, 2026 at 12:30 AM
In August 2026, U.S.
President Donald Trump made headlines by officially renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America."
This controversial decision followed a major collapse in trade negotiations between the United States and Canada, which had resulted in heavy tariffs being placed on Canadian goods.
Following an initial suggestion on social media, President Trump signed an executive order on August 27, 2026, directing U.S. federal agencies to update all official maps and documents to reflect the new name.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney quickly rejected the change, noting that the original name, derived from the Indigenous Wendat language, has existed for over 400 years.
Domestically, the move also met resistance from various governors.
Whether this serves as a lasting geopolitical statement or a temporary branding exercise, the renaming of Lake America highlights the complex tensions currently defining North American relations.
