President Donald Trump sparked debate in parts of upstate New York on Thursday after signing an executive order renaming Lake Ontario as “Lake America.” The move, announced from the Oval Office, was promoted by the administration as part of an initiative to strengthen the Great Lakes region, but it received a mixed response from local residents and officials.
Lake Ontario, the smallest of the five Great Lakes and named from an Iroquoian word meaning “lake of shining waters,” has been known by this designation since the 17th century. French explorers had previously referred to the lake as “Lake St. Louis.” The area along the lake’s shore is home to roughly two million New Yorkers, many of whom expressed little interest in adopting the new name.
David Hedley, a fourth-generation owner of Hedley Boatyard in Olcott, highlighted the disconnect between the name change and more pressing regional concerns, such as economic affordability. “Next they’ll be calling Canada geese ‘Donald ducks,’” he remarked, emphasizing his decision not to incorporate the new lake name into his longstanding family business established in 1900.
Other business owners near Lake Ontario shared similar sentiments. Sherri Middlestate, who manages the Shangri-La marina and campground in Three Mile Bay, dismissed any intention of changing the venue’s name. Jim Baker, co-owner of Chateau Niagara Winery in Newfane, criticized the renaming as a trivial distraction amid broader trade tensions. He noted his family's roots in the area dating back to the early 19th century and declined to use “Lake America” in promotional materials.
The executive order came shortly after trade negotiations between the United States and Canada had broken down. It mirrors an earlier similar directive in President Trump’s second term, which rechristened the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” Experts suggest such renamings will only carry weight within federal agencies and are unlikely to be recognized by other countries.
Public opinion near the lake showed some nuance. Greg Boyd, a camper at Four Mile Creek State Park near Niagara Falls, indicated openness to the name change if it served as leverage to improve trade equity between the U.S. and Canada. “If that’s what it takes to bargain, go ahead,” he said, acknowledging that the move might provoke dissatisfaction but could be justified by ongoing economic concerns.
Politically, the counties bordering Lake Ontario tend to favor conservative candidates; Mr. Trump secured majorities in nine out of ten of these counties in the 2024 presidential election. Meanwhile, Democratic leaders from the Great Lakes region responded to the renaming with resistance. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer shared a video of a children’s song used to teach lake names in schools, reaffirming her support for the traditional names. New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared via social media that the state would not adopt the new designation.
Environmental and scientific groups also voiced reluctance toward the change. Silvia Newell, director of Michigan Sea Grant, said her organization would continue to use “Lake Ontario” unless official federal agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration directed otherwise. She emphasized the Great Lakes as a unifying force where stakeholders across political divides work together to protect the region, viewing the naming issue as a rare bipartisan consensus.
As the federal government implements the executive order, its impact on local usage and international recognition of the lake’s name remains uncertain, underscoring tensions between symbolic governmental actions and community identity along the Great Lakes.