Trump signs order renaming Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' in US
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' within the United States, escalating trade tensions with Canada. Canada has rejected the move, labeling it a provocative act amidst a broader trade war involving retaliatory tariffs.
Why it matters
The move represents a significant escalation in diplomatic and economic hostilities between the US and Canada.
President Donald Trump said he is renaming Lake Ontario to be known as “Lake America” in the United States as he exacerbates his trade war with Canada. The Republican president signed an executive order directing the Interior Department to update the lake's name in the US geographic naming service. Trump <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/08/26/trump-considers-renaming-lake-ontario-as-lake-america/">cannot force Canada to follow his preferred naming convention</a>, however. Trump has been floating the idea of the name change in recent days as the US announced it was imposing 50% tariffs on US$20 billion worth of Canadian goods over the weekend after <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/08/27/trump-its-time-to-teach-canada-you-cant-do-this-anymore/">talks between the countries broke down</a>. Trump has been needling America’s northern neighbour since he returned to the White House last year, suggesting the ally with whom the US once had warm relations should instead be absorbed as the 51st state.
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