WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 — President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday directing U.S. federal agencies to update the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America” in official geographic records, a move that comes days after trade negotiations between Washington and Ottawa collapsed.
The order applies to the U.S. portion of the lake’s naming in federal documents, maps and databases. It does not change the internationally recognized name, and the Canadian government retains its own naming authority over its side of the shared waterway.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney rejected the move, calling it an attempt to pressure Ottawa amid the ongoing tariff dispute between the two countries. Several U.S. state governors bordering the lake also pushed back, with New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, publicly mocking the renaming.
The White House described the order as part of a broader campaign to assert U.S. sovereignty over shared geographic features along the northern border. Trade talks between the two neighbors broke down late last week, and the renaming follows a series of escalating measures from both sides.
Geographic naming in the United States is overseen by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, which has historically required evidence of local usage before approving changes. Officials at the board did not immediately respond to requests for comment on how the executive order would be implemented.
The lake spans more than 18,900 square kilometers and serves as a critical shipping corridor and drinking water source for cities on both sides of the border, including Toronto and Rochester.
Observers note that while the order changes U.S. federal usage, international maps, treaties and most digital platforms rely on internationally agreed names, limiting the practical reach of the measure.