U.S. President Donald Trump has issued an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America” amid escalating tensions with Canada. Trump, seated by a map with the altered name, criticized Canada’s behavior, accusing the country of unfair treatment and taking advantage of the U.S.
In response to questions about focusing on American allies rather than adversaries, Trump defended his actions by stating that the Canadian officials had not treated the U.S. well and referred to them as “nasty people.” This move comes after trade negotiations between the two countries collapsed, leading to accusations of last-minute changes from both sides.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, a former North Dakota governor, expressed pride in the renaming, emphasizing that U.S. borders and waters should reflect the nation’s greatness. However, Canadian officials reacted with disbelief and criticism on social media, reaffirming their commitment to calling the body of water Lake Ontario regardless of the change.
In a separate incident, Trump previously attempted to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America through an executive order. Despite affecting only federal documents and services, some online mapping services also adopted the change. The controversy surrounding this decision resulted in The Associated Press being banned from certain White House coverage after not using the new name in their reporting.