President Donald Trump has stirred controversy by signing an executive order to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America. The order, issued in the Oval Office, instructs Secretary Doug Burgum and the Department of the Interior to make the change through the Geographic Names Information Service.
Trump emphasized the completion of all necessary paperwork and notifications, declaring the name change to be official. This decision follows Trump’s recent threat amidst escalating tensions in the Canada-U.S. trade war.
This move echoes a previous action by Trump, who renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America last year. Jokingly, he mentioned the possibility of renaming the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean in the future.
However, it’s important to note that despite the executive order, renaming the bi-national Lake Ontario requires agreement from both Canada and the U.S. The current name holds historical significance, being recognized internationally and rooted in centuries-old treaties and legislation.
The renaming controversy adds to the ongoing trade disputes between the two countries, with accusations from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney regarding U.S. interference in trade negotiations. The tension further escalated when Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Trump engaged in a heated exchange of words.
In response, Canada announced plans to impose retaliatory tariffs, marking another chapter in the complex trade relationship between the neighboring nations.
