Trump Threatens to Rename Lake Ontario Amid Canada Tariff Fight

President Trump posted Tuesday on Truth Social that the U.S. is giving 'serious consideration' to renaming Lake Ontario 'Lake America,' citing diminished trade expectations with the Canadian province.

• 50% tariffs on some Canadian goods took effect after trade talks collapsed Friday.
• 50% tariffs on Canadian autos, trucks, auto parts, and steel are set for January 1, 2027.
• Canada pledged 'dollar-for-dollar' retaliatory tariffs beginning September 8.
• Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatened to cut power to U.S. manufacturing plants.

Why it matters: The Lake Ontario threat follows Trump's 2025 executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico 'Gulf of America.' That name change applied to federal references; other nations are not required to adopt it.

• Canada and the U.S. are each other's largest trading partners, making an extended standoff costly for both economies.

How 43 sources split on this story

Where they split: Coverage splits on emphasis: whether this episode is primarily a trade policy story with real economic consequences, or a rhetorical escalation driven by personal conflict between Trump and Ford.

What’s next: Canada is scheduled to announce retaliatory tariff details imminently.

• Ford stated Ontario is prepared to 'sacrifice' in what he called an economic war.
• Would Trump sign an executive order formalizing the Lake Ontario name change, as he did with the Gulf of Mexico?
• Will Canada's threatened energy and critical mineral restrictions materialize, and how would the U.S. respond?