U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario Lake America in the Oval Office on Thursday. Trump said during the ceremony that the change would take effect immediately.
The order instructs Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and the Department of the Interior to update the Geographic Names Information System to reflect the new name.
The decision came amid ongoing U.S.-Canada trade tensions
After trade negotiations between Washington and Ottawa failed to produce an agreement, the United States began imposing new tariffs on Canadian products. Canada responded to the measures shortly afterward, further straining relations between the two countries.
Trump said the renaming of Lake Ontario was not intended to send a message to Canada. Asked what signal the change sent to Canada, he replied, "There is no message."
Trump criticized Canada's trade policies
The U.S. president later criticized Canada's trade policies. Trump argued that Canada had unfairly benefited from the United States for a long time and said the country had also failed to make a sufficient contribution to North America's defense.
Trump claimed that the United States had lost an average of $60 billion annually over the past 15 years because of Canada and said the situation could not continue.
Trump said significant tariffs would be imposed on automobiles imported from Canada, adding that the measure would encourage manufacturers to produce their vehicles in the United States. Arguing that Canadian officials had treated the United States badly, Trump said the problems between the two countries needed to end.
More geographical name changes under consideration
Trump compared the Lake Ontario decision with his administration's earlier decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. Saying, "We have only one ocean left," Trump said the Atlantic Ocean or the Pacific Ocean could also be renamed.
