Canadian Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, had a long conversation with ABC News Sunday about the ongoing trade conflict between Washington and Ottawa.During the interview, he made fun of a move that critics have called one of President Donald Trump’s most “petty” actions.
Trump started a big trade war against Canada earlier this month after talks between the two countries fell apart because of some last-minute requests from the U.S.
One of those requests, according to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, was for Canada to “change its French language” and to let the U.S.take control over Canada’s ability to make trade deals with other countries.
(Watch the video below.)
Carney promised to match Trump’s new 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods “dollar for dollar.” In response, Trump signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America.
Ford found this move so strange that it reminded him of a comedy sketch.
“It was like something out of ‘Saturday Night Live’ when he signed documents saying [to] change to Lake America,” Ford told ABC News, according to Politico.
“No one’s going to call it Lake of America.It’s been Lake Ontario for hundreds of years.It’s going to continue being Lake Ontario.”
Ford also made a clear distinction between Trump and the American people, saying he and other Canadians “love” the American people.
He said Trump’s attempt to change the name of Lake Ontario was “so disappointing.”
Earlier that same Sunday, Ford also put up a large billboard on the shore of Lake Ontario that read: “Lake Ontario.
Now and Always,” with the same message in French.
“You may have heard that President Trump is trying to rename this lake all because he doesn’t like Ontario and Canada standing up for ourselves,” Ford said in a video shared on social media Saturday.
“But let’s be serious: Long before President Trump, this lake was called Lake Ontario, and long after President Trump is gone, it will still be called Lake Ontario.
But just in case President Trump or anyone else forgets, we’ve set up this sign to remind them it’s Lake Ontario now, and forever.”
It’s Lake Ontario, now and always. pic.twitter.com/KNahtPAMeJ
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) August 29, 2026
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