U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to 'Lake America,' marking another escalation in ongoing trade disputes with Canada. Canadian and American officials quickly rejected the change.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Thursday to rename Lake Ontario as 'Lake America,' applying the change to U.S. federal usage only. Trump stated the decision was something he had been considering for an extended period and suggested he might pursue similar renamings for oceans in the future.

The move prompted immediate pushback from Canadian leadership and American officials. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney noted that the lake's name, which originates from the Wendat language meaning 'the lake is beautiful, great,' predates both the United States and Canada as nations. Carney stated on social media that "Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario – then, now and always." New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Republican Governor Phil Scott of Vermont both rejected the renaming, with Scott describing it as "petty and disappointing." Grand Chief Pierre Picard of the Wendat Nation condemned the decision, saying Trump was attempting to erase Indigenous history.

The renaming represents another point of friction between Washington and Ottawa. Trade negotiations between the two countries collapsed last week, with each side blaming the other for the breakdown. Canadian officials cited disagreements over language protections, tariff relief on trucks, and restrictions on future trade deals, while U.S. officials characterized the collapse as a political decision by the Canadian government.

This marks Trump's latest effort to affix his imprint on American symbols and infrastructure. Since returning to office, he has ordered changes to multiple federal buildings, Navy warship designations, visa programs, and government services. The administration also renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in January 2025.