New York Governor Rejects Trump’s Nationalist 'Lake America' Renaming Stunt
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Governor Kathy Hochul stood firm against President Trump’s latest display of nationalist overreach, refusing to rename Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' amid a reckless trade war with Canada.
Governor Kathy Hochul has boldly refused to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order to erase the historic and Indigenous-rooted name of Lake Ontario in favor of the jingoistic 'Lake America.' New York will continue to honor the lake’s true name on its maps and signage, rejecting the White House’s attempt to rewrite history for political gain. While the order instructs the Interior Department and the Board on Geographic Names to update federal records, it cannot force Canada or the international community to participate in this nationalist charade.
'New York won’t be calling it that,' Hochul declared on X, standing up to federal overreach.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney underscored the lake’s deep Indigenous heritage, reminding the world that 'Ontario' comes from a Wendat word meaning 'the lake is beautiful, the lake is big,' a name that has endured for over four centuries. Carney emphasized that Canadians see the name as a truthful reflection of history and culture that must not be erased by American exceptionalism.
'We know that America is changing... Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario — then, now and always,' Carney stated, defending Indigenous and international respect.
Other state leaders joined the resistance. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers mocked Trump’s proposal by posting a video of himself writing 'Lake Wisconsin' on a napkin, while Vermont Governor Phil Scott condemned the move as 'petty and disappointing,' urging both nations to focus on real issues like fair trade.
'We should be at the negotiating table, finding a path forward that strengthens both the U.S. and Canadian economies. Further escalating tensions does nothing to help American or Canadian families and businesses,' Scott said, highlighting the harm caused by Trump’s divisive tactics.
Lake Ontario, which unites New York and Ontario, Canada, supports a watershed for 5.6 million people across both countries. This naming dispute comes as Trump’s administration escalates a destructive trade war, slapping 50 percent tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian goods and provoking Canada to retaliate in kind.
Hochul has previously denounced these trade measures, condemning the president for 'treating our allies as enemies' and inflicting needless suffering on American families in pursuit of his nationalist agenda.