Kathmandu— United States President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he is renaming Lake Ontario to ‘Lake America,’ escalating tensions with Canada amidst an ongoing trade dispute. The president signed an executive order at a news conference in the Oval Office, stating the change would be effective immediately and criticizing Canada’s trade practices as exploitative. This move follows a similar rebranding of the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” earlier this year and hints at further name changes for other bodies of water bordering the US.

Escalating Trade Tensions

The renaming of Lake Ontario comes after President Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian goods last week, prompting retaliatory counter-tariffs from Canada on over 700 products. During Tuesday’s press conference, Trump accused Canadian officials of treating the US “very badly” and claimed they had been “ripping us off for a long time.” He framed the lake's renaming as a direct response to these perceived unfair trade practices.

History of Renaming Geographical Features

This is not the first instance of President Trump altering the names of geographical features with international ties. In January 2025, upon returning to office, he signed an executive order rebranding the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” justifying the change by stating it “has long been an integral asset to our once burgeoning Nation.” Despite centuries of established usage – cartographers and governments have used ‘Gulf of Mexico’ for nearly 500 years – Trump has sought to assert American ownership through renaming.

Lake Ontario's Original Name

Lake Ontario, which shares its name with the Canadian province of Ontario, actually derives its official designation from the Huron Indigenous people. The word “oniatarí:io” translates to “lake of shining waters,” and was adopted as the name for both the lake and the province in 1867. Trump’s decision disregards this historical context in favor of an American-centric rebranding.

Potential for Further Changes

During Thursday's signing, Trump suggested that Lake Ontario may not be the last body of water to receive an America-themed name change. He teased the possibility of renaming the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, stating, “We have a gulf and we have a lake. Now all we need is an ocean… Maybe we’ll change them both.” This indicates a potential pattern of asserting American dominance through symbolic alterations of geographical landmarks.

The immediate impact of the name change remains unclear, as it is likely to face resistance from Canada and potentially raise legal challenges regarding international waterways. It is expected that further developments will depend on the ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.