Trump orders Lake Ontario renamed ‘Lake America’ after US-Canada talks collapse
Trump announces major name change
Donald Trump has ordered the renaming of Lake Ontario as Lake America, saying the change would take effect immediately.
A White House aide said the Trump executive order directs the US Department of the Interior and Secretary Doug Burgum to implement the new name.
The decision has attracted attention because Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and borders both the US state of New York and the Canadian province of Ontario.
Lake shared by US and Canada
Lake America, as proposed under the order, has historically been known as Lake Ontario.
The lake is shared by the United States and Canada and is an important geographical feature for both countries.
The proposed name change could raise questions over how Lake America will be referred to on official US maps, documents and government websites.
Canada has not immediately responded to the reported decision.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office was approached for comment, but no immediate response was reported.
Move follows failed trade talks
The decision comes after US Canada trade talks collapsed last week.
The United States and Canada had held three days of intensive negotiations, but the discussions ended without an agreement.
Both countries blamed the other side for the failure of the talks.
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The development has added to concerns over US Canada relations, which have already faced pressure over trade and other disagreements.
The timing of the name change has therefore attracted additional attention.
What could happen next?
The Trump executive order reportedly instructs the Interior Department to begin the process of putting the new name into effect.
However, the move could become a sensitive issue in Canada because the lake also borders Ontario.
For decades, Lake Ontario has been widely recognised by its existing name in both countries.
Changing it to Lake America would mark a major departure from that long-established usage.
