Donald Trump recently made news by saying he wanted to change the name of Lake Ontario. This lake is shared by both Canada and the United States.It is located to the north, west, and southwest of Ontario and to the south and east of New York.
Tensions between the U.S.
and Canada have increased due to trade disputes. In this climate, Trump’s idea to rename the lake as “Lake America” did not gain much support.
According to the Irish Star, Hillary Clinton responded with only a few words.
She posted on social media, “It’s Lake Ontario.” The post became very popular, getting 54,000 likes and 8,000 shares.
She didn’t comment further because she turned off her comments.
Recently, Trump said he was moving forward with all the steps needed to change the name of Lake Ontario.
Trump: We have a gulf, a lake.. now all we need is an ocean. Maybe we’ll have to change the name of the Atlantic and the Pacific. pic.twitter.com/DadFb9xIv9
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 27, 2026
When he signed his executive order, he said, “This is official.” He added, “We filed all the necessary papers and documents and notified all the people we had to notify.”
He also talked about it on his Truth Social account.
He wrote, “The United States is giving serious consideration to changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America.”
He also said he didn’t think trade would continue with “Ontario” anymore.
Canada is the U.S.’s second-largest trade partner.
Trump said the same things to Glenn Beck.
He claimed he was “not kidding” about his decision. He even said he decided to “take on” Canada over the issues with tariffs.
On CNN NewsNight, former Trump admin staffer Sarah Matthews joins the discourse about President Trump renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America:
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) August 28, 2026
“I think this goes really hard if you’re stupid.”
Embarrassing. pic.twitter.com/fGkNb07IOL
According to The Associated Press, Trump told the Interior Department to update the maps accordingly.
A conflict started when the U.S.said that Canada’s $20 billion worth of goods would face 50% tariffs.
Canada said it would also impose tariffs on $20 billion worth of U.S.
goods as a response.
Mark Carney, the Canadian Prime Minister, dismissed the name change.
He said the name has deep historical roots, going back longer than the U.S.Declaration of Independence or the Canadian Confederation.
He wrote, “Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario — then, now and always.” Doug Ford, the Ontario Premier and a Trump critic, said on social media, “It’s Lake Ontario to Canadians and the rest of the world.
Now and forever.”
Sen. Mark Kelly says Trump is focused on “stupid things” as he signs an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America: “How does changing the name of a lake help the American people? They can’t afford their lives right now, because of his actions.” pic.twitter.com/4iQOsoe4G2
— Erin Burnett OutFront (@OutFrontCNN) August 28, 2026
Tim Houston, the Nova Scotia Premier, said, “We’re into some real foolishness now.
It’s Lake Ontario, buddy.” Kathy Hochul, the Governor of New York, said, “New York won’t be calling it that.”
The outlet noted that during his second term, Trump had claimed that he wanted to make Canada the 51st state of the U.S.
by absorbing it.
About the Author
You better look at a map. The lake is north and west of most of New York state. Not southeast!