President Donald Trump is continuing his pressure campaign against Canada, and this time he’s putting a new name on the map—Lake America.
Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing the federal government to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America,” escalating his ongoing battle with Canada and putting Hochul directly in the crosshairs.
Hochul isn’t playing along.
“New York won’t be calling it that,” the governor said after Trump announced the change.
That was enough for Trump to fire back.
On Friday, Trump accused Hochul of siding with Canada and claimed she was allowing the country to take advantage of New York. He then turned the dispute into a campaign pitch, endorsing Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman and arguing that New York needs a tougher governor.
“Lake America” is now officially the name the federal government is supposed to use. Trump’s order directs the Interior Department to update the federal Geographic Names Information System within 30 days.
But Trump can’t force Canada, New York or the rest of the world to use it.
And Hochul clearly has no intention of doing so.
The fight is really an extension of Trump’s much larger confrontation with Canada. The administration has imposed steep tariffs on Canadian goods, while Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government has promised retaliation.
Canada has already rejected the name change, pointing out that “Ontario” comes from an Indigenous term that predates both modern Canada and the United States.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford took the response a step further Saturday, unveiling a giant sign on the Canadian shoreline reading “Lake Ontario. Now and Always.”
For Hochul, however, this isn’t just about geography.
Trump is already trying to help Blakeman close the gap in a governor’s race where Hochul’s lead has been shrinking.
Now the president has handed her Republican opponent another national issue to campaign on.
