U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America” for official use within the United States, escalating tensions with neighbouring Canada.
The order, signed on Thursday, August 27, directs the U.S. government’s geographic naming authorities to adopt the new name.
However, the change does not bind Canada or international organisations, meaning Canadians are free to continue calling the lake Lake Ontario.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney rejected the move, saying the body of water will continue to be known as Lake Ontario.
Canadian officials and critics have described Trump’s decision as provocative, particularly as the two countries remain locked in an escalating trade dispute involving new tariffs.
The renaming follows Trump’s 2025 decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” for U.S. federal use.
The White House has formally listed the Lake America renaming as a presidential executive action dated August 27, 2026.
