President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, August 27, 2026, officially renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America." The change is effective immediately and comes as the United States and Canada are embroiled in an escalating trade war.

Trump stated that the name change, which he referred to as "Lake of America," had been under consideration for a significant period. He displayed two large boards featuring the "Lake America" label during an event in the Oval Office where the order was signed.

While the U.S. president possesses the authority to unilaterally alter geographic names for official federal government purposes, as he did in January 2025 when he renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, this action does not compel other countries or international bodies to adopt the new designation. Canada and other nations will likely continue to refer to the body of water by its established name.

The renaming coincides with heightened tensions in the U.S.-Canada trade relationship. Negotiations between the two North American neighbors collapsed over the weekend, leading to the implementation of a new round of 50% U.S. tariffs on certain Canadian goods on Saturday. Canada responded with retaliatory levies.

During the signing event, President Trump characterized Canadian officials as having "treated us very badly" and described them as "nasty people." He reiterated his long-held view that Canada has "ripped us off for a long time on trade," justifying his trade policies against the northern neighbor.

When asked about the message behind the name change, Trump indicated he had no specific message but reiterated his criticisms of Canada's trade practices. He has consistently used this argument to defend the sweeping tariffs imposed on Canadian products.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford commented on the decision, stating, "He can change it to whatever he wants. But it will always be Lake Ontario to all Canadians and the rest of the world!"

Following the renaming of the lake, President Trump alluded to potential future name changes for other geographical features. "If you think about it, we have a gulf and we have a lake. Now, all we need is an ocean," he remarked, suggesting that the names of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans might also be subject to alteration.