Trump signs order to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America as tensions rise
Written by The Canadian Press on August 27, 2026
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order today to change the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America.
In front of a map with the name, Trump says Canada has been difficult to deal with and followed through on his threat from Tuesday to rename the body of water.
Tensions between the two countries have continued to worsen since trade negotiations fell apart on Friday.
Last year Trump signed an executive order to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
It only applies to U.S. federal documents but some online map services also made the change.
Lake Ontario — one of the five Great Lakes — is located between Ontario and New York and the Canadian province is named after the lake.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 27, 2026.
Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press