Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has threatened to make Canada the 51st state of the United States, and a new trade war has rekindled antagonism with our northern neighbor. Trump also changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” in 2025, a change that seems to have stuck.
Now, Trump has threatened to do something similar to Canada.
On Truth Social on Tuesday, the president threatened to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America.”
“The United States is giving serious consideration to changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America in that we don’t expect to be doing much business with Ontario any longer. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump said on Truth Social.
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The specific antagonism towards Ontario, in addition to the trade war, seems directed at Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who in recent days has been feuding with the president. Ford had even threatened this week to cut power exports to the U.S.
“We power 1.5 million homes and businesses. Everything’s on the table. I’ll do whatever it takes,” Ford said Monday, per the Hill. “You won’t get a grain of sand out of Ontario.”
It’s part of nearly unprecedented tension between the U.S. and Canada, who have been allies during the majority of non-Trump presidential administrations.
“Mr. Trump’s comments came as tense trade dynamics with the U.S.’ northern neighbor have come to a head in recent days, in the latest dustup between two historically allied countries,” CBS News reported. “On Saturday, the U.S. began imposing 50% tariffs on hundreds of Canadian goods after negotiators failed to reach an agreement to resolve the standoff over trade between the key partner countries, prompting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to promise new retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. ”
Social media users had other thoughts:
He’s out of ideas pic.twitter.com/zgsTXpMEXD
— Sam Stein (@samstein) August 25, 2026
Plus they’re gonna rename Lake Ontario “Lac Ontario.” https://t.co/lB3RbMspiq
— Brendan Duke (@Brendan_Duke) August 25, 2026
Trump posts a graphic showing Lake Ontario renamed as “Lake America” pic.twitter.com/1YaOdH2b6F
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 25, 2026
Dear Mr. Trump:
Since the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation established their homes close to and along the shores of this lake, it has been our lifeblood.
I, and everyone in Mississauga, am proud to be living along the shores of LAKE ONTARIO.
We will defend its good name!— Mayor Carolyn Parrish (@carolynhparrish) August 25, 2026
For some reason I don’t think renaming Lake Ontario is going to move the crucial, independent Latino voter in Texas over to the GOP for this upcoming midterm election. https://t.co/PfG1YYvGI9
— Konni Burton (@KonniBurton) August 25, 2026
Photo courtesy of an X screenshot.
