President Trump Renames Lake Ontario Amidst Tensions with Canada

On August 27, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario to ‘Lake America.’ He stated his administration had informed all necessary parties. Ontario Premier Doug Ford initially dismissed this as rhetoric. The renaming occurs during a growing trade conflict with Canada.

This is not Trump’s first renaming endeavor. He previously ordered the Gulf of Mexico to be called the Gulf of America and reverted Alaska’s Denali to Mount McKinley. While such changes might appear trivial compared to other national issues, the U.S. has a formal process for renaming places. This process is managed by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, a part of the U.S. Geological Survey.

Typically, renaming a place starts at the local level. Residents propose changes and gather support. The exact process differs by state. A recent example occurred in Minnesota, where a lake’s name was changed to Bde Maka Ska. This Dakota name had historical significance and was recognized by local and state authorities before gaining national acknowledgment.

The name change recognizes the sacred status of Denali to many Alaska Natives.

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names standardizes place names. It involves input from state authorities, local governments, and Tribal Governments. This detailed process includes reviewing proposals and following legal guidelines. Even when a name is contentious, like Denali’s change from Mount McKinley, a legal framework exists to address objections. In Alaska’s case, the name Denali was formalized in 2015, reflecting its historic use by Alaska Natives.

Changing names of geographical features beyond U.S. borders, such as the Gulf of Mexico, presents different challenges. The U.S. cannot enforce these changes internationally. Countries retain autonomy over their maps and place names. Google Maps, for example, adapts its displayed names based on the viewer’s location.

While the U.S. can request other countries to adopt new names, formal international procedures for such renamings do not exist. U.S. documents, signs, and maps now reflect these changes, although mapmakers worldwide adhere to their respective official names.