Trump Considers Renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America” Amid Canada Trade War
Posted on08/25/26 at 06:45
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that his administration is seriously considering changing the name of Lake Ontario to «Lake America», amid a growing trade dispute with Canada.
The proposal recalls a decision made during his second term to officially use the name «America’s Gulf» in the United States to refer to the Gulf of Mexico.
Why Does Trump Want to Change the Name of Lake Ontario?
Trump directly linked the idea to the deterioration of trade relations with the Canadian province of Ontario.
«The United States is seriously considering changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America, as we do not expect to do much business with Ontario from now on,» the president wrote on his social media.
The statement comes after the failure of new trade negotiations between Washington and Ottawa.
Trade War Between the United States and Canada Escalates
Tensions between the two countries increased after the Trump administration announced 50% tariffs on billions of dollars’ worth of products from Canada.
The Canadian government is preparing retaliatory measures against U.S. products, deepening a dispute that particularly affects sectors such as the automotive, steel, and aluminum industries.
Ontario plays a particularly important role because it is the most populous province in Canada and concentrates a significant part of the country’s automotive industry.
Trump Already Changed the Name of the Gulf of Mexico
The proposal regarding Lake Ontario recalls another controversy driven by Trump.
The president previously ordered U.S. federal agencies to use the name «America’s Gulf» instead of Gulf of Mexico.
Now, the president is again proposing a symbolic geographic change at a time of tension with one of the United States’ main trading partners.
For now, Trump has only indicated that the name change for Lake Ontario is being considered and has not announced an official order to implement it.