Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiled a large sign on Canada's shoreline reading "Lake Ontario. Now and Always." in response to President Trump's executive order to rename the lake "Lake America" following collapsed trade talks and new US tariffs.
The escalating dispute over the naming of Lake Ontario highlights ongoing trade tensions between the US and Canada, with potential for further retaliatory measures and diplomatic friction.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has responded to US President Donald Trump's executive order to rename Lake Ontario to "Lake America" by installing a large sign on Canada's shoreline that reads "Lake Ontario. Now and Always."
Trump's decree, signed on Thursday, comes after trade talks collapsed and the US imposed new 50% tariffs on $20 billion (C$28 billion) of Canadian goods. Canada has stated it will implement "dollar for dollar" counter-tariffs next month.
Ford stated that Trump's renaming of the lake was a reaction to Canada "standing up for ourselves." He added that the sign serves as a reminder that the lake's name is "Lake Ontario, now and forever."
This dispute echoes a previous response from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who insisted that "things must be called by their name, and this lake is called Lake Ontario - today and forever."
Trump also posted AI-generated videos on social media, including one showing him replacing a Lake Ontario sign with one that says "Welcome to Lake America." Another video depicted Canada geese with Trump's hair patrolling the shoreline.
Trump's executive order directs the US Department of the Interior to update the name change with the Geographic Names Information Service within 30 days. However, other countries are not required to recognize such unilateral renaming of shared international waters, as seen in a previous instance where Trump attempted to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, a move rejected by Mexico.