Trump turns Lake Ontario into 'Lake America' as trade war with Canada escalates

WASHINGTON, DC: Two days after President Donald Trump threatened to rename Lake Ontario "Lake America," arguing that no business is going to take place through the route, amid an escalating trade war with Canada, the lake's name was officially changed.

The trade talks between the US and Canada fell through on Friday, August 19, after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney withdrew his representatives from the negotiating table, citing the US administration’s unacceptable last-minute demands.

Trump signs executive order to rename Lake Ontario

President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, August 27, to rename Lake Ontario, which connects the United States to Canada, as "Lake America."

“‘Lake of America’ was something I’ve been thinking about for a long time,” Trump said from the Oval Office. “We have a gulf, and we have a lake. Now, all we need is an ocean. So, maybe we’ll have to change the name of the Atlantic and/or the Pacific. Maybe we’ll change them both.”

Trump was surrounded by a large map of the Great Lakes when he announced that the decision to rename Lake Ontario was “effective immediately,” and that his staff had “filed all the necessary papers, documents, everything else.”

A White House aide claimed the lake “has most of its volume in the United States” and that the “deepest parts” are in US territory.

Asked why he’s focused on needling American allies, Trump replied: “The Canadian officials have treated us very badly. They’re nasty people.”

Trump further added that “Canadians are the worst to deal with on trade,” as they are “entitled.”

Trump proposed change after heated exchange with Ontario premier

Trump first floated the idea two days earlier, telling reporters on Tuesday, August 25, that his administration was considering changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America.

The announcement came after Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded to Trump's attack on social media, calling the president a “loser” and telling him, “Bring it on, buddy.”

Trump had attacked Ford, calling him a "flunky" of Prime Minister Mark Carney and invoking his late brother Rob Ford.

“The United States is giving serious consideration to changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America in that we don’t expect to do much business with Ontario any longer,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Trump posted a lengthy message to the premier on his Truth Social platform, saying he was the “unimpressive brother” of former mayor Rob Ford.

Later, Doug Ford hit back at the president repeatedly, suggesting he would campaign against the Republican president in the midterms if he could.