“President Trump's inane executive order is a weak attempt to distract from the fact that the Trump administration has raised costs on hardworking families, caused gas prices to skyrocket, and cut the programs that Americans rely on to get healthcare and put food on the table. Instead of renaming Great Lakes for no good reason, the president should stop the political games, get back to the negotiation table, and make a deal that lowers costs for New York families. I am proud to announce this legislation to restore Lake Ontario's original name, and I look forward to getting it passed.
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Trump Signs an Executive Order Renaming Lake Ontario "Lake America" — "All We Need Is an Ocean" — and Even Chris Christie Calls It "Completely Childish"
August 27, 2026
On August 27, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order in the Oval Office directing the Interior Department to update federal geographic information systems to rename Lake Ontario as "Lake America," effective immediately. The order asserts that because "the deepest parts of the Lake's waters" lie within United States territory, "the United States claims most of the Lake's volume," and that the lake "has long been an integral asset to American exploration, settlement, commerce, and defense." Trump had floated the idea two days earlier, on August 25, in the middle of the collapse of US–Canada trade talks and the Section 338 tariff fight. Asked what message he meant to send Canada, Trump said "No message" and then added that Canada "has been ripping us off for a long time on trade." He framed the order as a sequel to renaming the Gulf of Mexico: "we have a gulf and we have a lake. Now, all we need is an ocean." The reaction from US officials was near-uniformly negative and unusually mocking. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, whose state borders the lake, called it "a juvenile effort" and "a pathetic attempt at distraction" from tariffs raising costs in Upstate New York. Gov. Kathy Hochul answered in five words on X: "New York won't be calling it that." Sen. Amy Klobuchar said that "on behalf of the great Lake Superior, I call that superiorly stupid." Sen. Chris Van Hollen called it "more evidence we elected a toddler as president," and Sen. Mark Kelly asked how renaming a lake helps Americans who "can't afford their lives right now." Elected Republicans were largely silent. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called the order "Childish. Completely childish." Rep. Jeff Crank (R-CO), asked the next day whether the body of water is Lake Ontario or Lake America, said he was "unaware of — what's the reference?" and then, "I don't know. I — I have other more pressing issues I'm working on. Goodness!" Canadian officials rejected the renaming outright. Prime Minister Mark Carney noted the name derives from the Wendat word Ontari'io and predates both Confederation and the Declaration of Independence; Ontario Premier Doug Ford said it "will always be Lake Ontario to all Canadians and the rest of the world." The lake's name in Canada is unaffected — the order reaches only US federal usage.
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Statements Recorded
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29 Statements
“By preventing President Trump from trying to divide us with distracting public relations stunts, maybe then he will turn his attention to his reckless trade war.
“Lake Ontario is Lake Ontario. No executive order, proclamation, or presidential temper tantrum is going to change that. Families are worried about paying their bills. Businesses are looking for certainty. Communities like ours are asking Washington to focus on the challenges that actually affect people's lives.
“This is ridiculous, it's embarrassing, and it's exactly the kind of unserious distraction Americans are tired of. Here in Rochester, we'll keep calling it Lake Ontario. And in Congress, I'm working with my colleagues to make sure it stays that way.
“Americans are struggling to afford groceries, housing, and everyday essentials, and yet this President chooses to pick petty fights with our closest ally. This unserious, unacceptable attempt to rename the historic, shared Lake Ontario adds insult to injury as Trump's tariffs drive up costs.
“Renaming a lake won't put food on the table, lower anyone's bills, or create a single job.
“I don’t know. I — I have other more pressing issues I’m working on. Goodness!
“Pretending to rename a lake is an attempted distraction from the president's disastrous trade talks with Canada.
“The Great Lakes are a shared treasure that generations of Americans and Canadians have worked together to protect. I’m introducing legislation to keep Lake Ontario as Lake Ontario and block President Trump’s idiotic order. When President Trump is done doing arts and crafts in the Oval, I’d suggest he turn his attention to his failed economy that is raising costs, eliminating jobs, and leaving working men and women behind.
“Let’s just call it Lake Natalie so we know you’ll start protecting our Great Lakes.
“I'm speechless. It is so patently absurd.
“Shame on them for deflecting from the real needs that Americans are feeling that we have in New York.
“The Canadian officials have treated us very badly. They’re nasty people.
“No message, as you know, Canada has been ripping us off for a long time on trade.
“If you think about it, we have a gulf and we have a lake. Now, all we need is an ocean.
“Donald Trump picked a fight with Canada that is costing you money. Instead of fixing it, he is spending your tax dollars to rename Lake Ontario.
“How does changing the name of a lake help the American people? They can’t afford their lives right now.
“More evidence we elected a toddler as president.
“Nothing President Trump can do will take away what all Rochesterians know—it’s Lake Ontario. Full stop.
“Instead of lowering costs and cancelling his damaging tariffs, Trump is doubling down on a juvenile effort to rename one of the Great Lakes. He’s escalating his reckless tariff war with our closest trading partner and ally, which will continue to drive up costs for Upstate New York families, seniors and small businesses. It’s a pathetic attempt at distraction, and it’s working families who are paying the price.
“On behalf of the great Lake Superior, I call that superiorly stupid.
“Like most of Upstate New York and the people I represent, I’ll keep calling it Lake Ontario. This is just another silly distraction from the Trump White House.
“Lake Ontario will always be Lake Ontario.
“Canada is not our enemy. It is our neighbor, our ally, and one of Michigan’s most important economic partners. It is a friendship that no stroke of a pen can erase.
“Donald Trump can sign all the Executive Orders he wants, but it will always be Lake Ontario.
“With all the challenges facing our country, this is what the President chooses to spend his time doing today and communicating to the American people and the rest of the world. Childish. Completely childish.
“New York won’t be calling it that.
“The name is more than 400 years old, pre-dating both the Confederation of Canada and the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America. This lake is called Lake Ontario — today and forever.
“He can change it to whatever he wants. But it will always be Lake Ontario to all Canadians and the rest of the world!