Trump Renames Lake Ontario as Lake America in US

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to change the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America” for all the federal purposes within the United States. The executive order was signed on August 27th 2026, after the growing tension between the United States and Canada. According to the White House, the executive order is meant to reflect the historical significance of the lake to the US.

What Is Included In Trump’s Executive Order?

This executive order is called “Honoring the American History of the Great Lakes and Renaming Lake Ontario as Lake America,” and requires the US Interior Department to undertake efforts to rename this lake in US geographical records.

The order directs the Secretary of the Interior to coordinate with the US Board on Geographic Names within 30 days and update the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).

All federal maps, contracts, documentation and other official references should use “Lake America.”

Where Is Lake Ontario Located?

Lake Ontario is one of the Great Lakes of North America. It is situated between the state of New York in the United States and Ontario in Canada.

The lake plays an important role in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence water system, used for shipping, industry, agriculture, as well as provision of drinking water.

Why Is The Name of Lake Ontario Changed By President Trump?

According to the White House order, this is because of the lake’s historical significance to the country, as well as its importance to US interests, commerce, and investments in the preservation of the Great Lakes and shipping facilities.

This decision was made amid increasing tensions in US-Canada trade relationships after the failure of their trade negotiations.

Will the Name Become Lake America in Canada?

No, because while the US government can decide on the name of the lake used in its own federal agencies, it cannot force Canada to use the name.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney noted that Canada will still refer to the lake as Lake Ontario owing to its historical name.

As a result, there is a possibility that the same lake might be named differently in the two nations.

Why Does the Name Change Matter?

The reason why it matters is not because it alters the geography of the lake but rather shows how limited geographic renaming can be when it comes to landmarks located in more than one nation.

This was preceded by Trump’s attempt to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.”