Lake Ontario to 'Lake America': Who gets to decide what goes on maps?
Summary
President Donald Trump issued an order to rename Lake Ontario as "Lake America" during a trade conflict with Canada. In the U.S., changing place names usually follows a formal process involving local, state, and federal agencies, including the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.Key Facts
- On August 27, 2026, President Trump signed an order renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America."
- The renaming comes amid growing trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada.
- Place name changes in the U.S. normally start with local communities proposing the change.
- The U.S. Board on Geographic Names approves and standardizes geographic names nationally.
- President Trump previously renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in 2025.
- Changing place names can take many years; for example, Denali was officially renamed from Mount McKinley in 2015 after decades of debate.
- Local, state, tribal, and federal input is sought before a name change is finalized.
- If people disagree with a name change, they can challenge it in court to review its legality.
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