President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the renaming of Lake Ontario as “Lake America” for official use by the United States government.
Eko Hot News reports the order, signed on Thursday, August 27, 2026, directs the U.S. Interior Department to update the lake’s name in the country’s official geographic naming system.
The White House said the decision reflects what it described as the lake’s importance to American history, commerce and national heritage.
Under the executive order, the Interior Department and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names are expected to take steps to implement the new designation within 30 days.
The order applies to the American side of the lake and to U.S. federal geographic references. It does not give Washington authority to compel Canada to adopt the new name.
Lake Ontario is shared by the United States and Canada, with New York State bordering the lake to the south and east and Ontario, Canada, bordering it to the north, west and southwest.
Canadian authorities have rejected the proposed change, making clear that the body of water will continue to be called Lake Ontario in Canada.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the historic name would remain in use, emphasizing that Lake Ontario’s name predates both modern Canada and the United States.
The renaming comes amid strained trade relations between Washington and Ottawa.
The United States recently announced 50 percent tariffs on about $20 billion worth of Canadian goods following unsuccessful trade discussions between the two countries. Canada subsequently announced matching tariffs on an equivalent value of American products.
Trump had publicly discussed the possibility of renaming Lake Ontario before signing the executive order.
Earlier in the week, he said he was giving serious consideration to changing the name, drawing comparisons with his administration’s earlier decision to use “Gulf of America” instead of “Gulf of Mexico” in U.S. federal references.
The White House has presented the latest decision as part of a broader effort to recognize American history through the naming of major geographic landmarks.
According to the executive order, the administration highlighted America’s investment in the Great Lakes and its role in supporting shipping, recreation and environmental protection.
The order also points to the lake’s historical significance to American settlement, commerce and transportation.
However, the decision does not change the internationally recognized geography of the Great Lake or require other countries, organizations or private entities to use the new designation.
The Associated Press reported that Trump cannot compel Canada to adopt the name, meaning Lake Ontario and Lake America are likely to be used differently on either side of the border.
The Great Lakes are among North America’s most important freshwater resources and include Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario.
Lake Ontario is the smallest of the five Great Lakes by surface area and is connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the St. Lawrence River.
The latest announcement has therefore attracted attention beyond the naming issue, particularly because the lake is a shared resource between the United States and Canada.
Canadian officials have maintained that the historic name will continue to be used in their country despite the American executive order.
The development also follows Trump’s earlier geographic naming initiatives, including the 2025 directive that led the U.S. government to adopt “Gulf of America” for the body of water traditionally known as the Gulf of Mexico in federal usage.
For now, the new designation will primarily affect U.S. federal maps, databases and official geographic references.
The White House has already published the executive order under its presidential actions archive, confirming that Trump formally signed the measure on August 27, 2026.
The decision adds another notable chapter to the evolving relationship between the United States and Canada, with the lake’s historic name remaining in use in Canada while American federal agencies move toward the designation Lake America.
