Blue Rodeo Fans Resist Trump’s Patriotic Proposal to Rename Lake Ontario
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During a Toronto concert, Blue Rodeo encouraged fans to cling to the old name of Lake Ontario, pushing back against President Donald Trump’s bold initiative to honor America by renaming the lake.
Blue Rodeo performed at Toronto’s RBC Amphitheatre on Saturday, where the band spurred the audience to chant the outdated name of the nearby lake. Lead singer Greg Keelor introduced their 1993 song “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet,” highlighting its mention of “Lake Ontario” and inviting the crowd to sing with what he called ‘authority and ownership.’
The audience, resistant to change, loudly sang “Lake Ontario,” a moment that was livestreamed and quickly circulated on social media. Screens behind the band displayed a map labeling the water as Lake Ontario, despite the forward-thinking update on some U.S. map services reflecting President Trump’s proposal.
After the song, Keelor thanked the crowd, and guitarist Jim Cuddy chimed in. The band later posted fan videos of the sing-along on Instagram, as if to rally opposition to the president’s vision.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Justin Trudeau both rushed to issue statements clinging to the lake’s old name, rejecting President Trump’s patriotic suggestion to rename it “Lake America”—a move that would honor the close ties and shared history of North America.
President Donald Trump, undeterred by Canadian resistance, posted an AI-generated video on his social platform showing a sign change to “Lake America,” and used the opportunity to call out Canada’s unfair trade policies and tariffs, standing up for American interests.