On Aug. 27, 2026, President Donald Trump issued an executive order renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America,” claiming his administration had already “notified all of the various people you have to notify.”
The name change, which Ontario Premier Doug Ford had dismissed as rhetoric when it was first suggested, comes amid an escalating trade war with Canada.
kAm~7 4@FCD6[ E9:D :D?’E E96 7:CDE E:>6 %CF>A 92D C6?2>65 2 =@42E:@?] x? a_ad 96 :DDF65 2? 6I64FE:G6 @C56C E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H9:E69@FD6]8@G^AC6D:56?E:2=\24E:@?D^a_ad^_`^C6DE@C:?8\?2>6D\E92E\9@?@C\2>6C:42?\8C62E?6DD^QmC6?2>6 E96 vF=7 @7 |6I:4@ E96 vF=7 @7 p>6C:42 2?5 C6EFC? p=2D<2’D s6?2=:k^2m[ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2E:@?2=86@8C2A9:4]4@>^EC2G6=^?2E:@?2=\A2C<D^2CE:4=6^56?2=:\?2E:@?2=\A2C<QmE2==6DE A62< :? E96 4@F?ECJk^2m[ E@ 36:?8 42==65 |@F?E |4z:?=6J]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 7@C D@>6 DF49 C6?2>:?8 >:89E D66> =6DD :>A@CE2?E E92? E96 3:8 AC@3=6>D E96 4@F?ECJ 7246D[ E96C6 :D 2 7@C>2= AC@46DD :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 7@C C6?2>:?8 A=246D[ 2?5 E92E AC@46DD :D E2<6? D6C:@FD=J]k^Am
kAm&DF2==J[ D@ A6@A=6 5@?’E 86E 4@?7FD65[ E96 8@G6C?>6?E FD6D @77:4:2=[ 28C665\FA@? ?2>6D] x? E96 &]$][ A=246 ?2>6D 2C6 DE2?52C5:K65 3J E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FD8D]8@G^FD\3@2C5\@?\86@8C2A9:4\?2>6DQm&]$] q@2C5 @? v6@8C2A9:4 }2>6Dk^2m[ H9:49 :D A2CE @7 E96 &]$] v6@=@8:42= $FCG6J[ E96 286?4J :? 492C86 @7 >2<:?8 >2AD]k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H9:E69@FD6]8@G^AC6D:56?E:2=\24E:@?D^a_ad^_`^C6DE@C:?8\?2>6D\E92E\9@?@C\2>6C:42?\8C62E?6DD^Qmx? 9:D AC6G:@FD 6I64FE:G6 @C56Ck^2m[ %CF>A 2D<65 E96 q@2C5 @? v6@8C2A9:4 }2>6D “E@ 9@?@C E96 4@?EC:3FE:@?D @7 G:D:@?2CJ 2?5 A2EC:@E:4 p>6C:42?D” 2?5 492?86 :ED A@=:4:6D 2?5 AC@465FC6D E@ C67=64E E92E]k^Am
kAm&DF2==J[ C6?2>:?8 2 A=246 DE2CED =@42==J] %96 A6@A=6 :? E96 DE2E6 @C 4@F?EJ AC@A@D6 2 ?2>6 492?86 2?5 82E96C DFAA@CE] %96 AC@46DD :? 6249 DE2E6 :D 5:776C6?E]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQp =2<6 H:E9 D2:=3@2ED 2?5 2 4:EJ D<J=:?6 :? E96 324<8C@F?5Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^eccfee^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ad_`ac\`f\e2KGDD];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]`U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj7:El4=:AU2>AjHlfc_Q ^mk7:842AE:@?m{2<6 q56 |2<2 $<2[ 7@C>6C=J {2<6 r2=9@F?[ :D E96 =2C86DE =2<6 :? |:??62A@=:D] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]86EEJ:>286D]4@>^56E2:=^A9@E@^>:??62A@=:D\>:??6D@E2\4:EJ\5@H?E@H?\FC32?\D<J=:?6\C@J2=EJ\7C66\:>286^`faacfachnA9C2D6l{2<6Ta_r2=9@F?U2>AjD62C49D4@A6l:>286Tar7:=>U2>Aj25AA@AFAlECF6Qm*:?*2?8^tZ G:2 v6EEJk^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
k9amw@H E@ 492?86 2 A=246 ?2>6k^9am
kAmx? a_`g[ |:??6D@E2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>:??62A@=:DA2C<D]@C8^?6HD^a_`g^_`^ah^=2<6042=9@F?0@77:4:2==J0C64@8?:K6502D03560>2<20D<2^Qm492?865 E96 ?2>6 @7 2 =2C86 =2<6k^2m :? |:??62A@=:D E@ q56 |2<2 $<2[ H9:49 E96 |:??62A@=:D !2C< q@2C5 56D4C:365 2D “2 s2<@E2 ?2>6 7@C E96 =2<6 E92E 92D 366? A2DD65 5@H? :? @C2= 9:DE@CJ 7@C >2?J J62CD]”k^Am
kAm%96 3@2C5 G@E65 E@ 492?86 E96 ?2>6 2?5 E@@< :ED C6BF6DE E@ E96 4@F?EJ 4@>>:DD:@?6CD] (96? E96 4@F?EJ 28C665[ E96 C6BF6DE H2D E96? D6?E E@ E96 |:??6D@E2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 }2EFC2= #6D@FC46D[ H9:49 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DE2CEC:3F?6]4@>^E96\DE2E6\@77:4:2==J\492?86D\=2<6\42=9@F?\E@\356\>2<2\D<2^cehhh_habQm>256 :E @77:4:2= 7@C |:??6D@E2k^2m] %96?[ E96 DE2E6 @7 |:??6D@E2 D6?E E96 C6BF6DE E@ E96 q@2C5 @? v6@8C2A9:4 }2>6D[ H9:49 >256 :E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]DE2CEC:3F?6]4@>^765D\?@H\C64@8?:K6\=2<6\42=9@F?\2D\356\>2<2\D<2^cggah_ac`^Qm@77:4:2= 7@C E96 6?E:C6 &]$k^2m]k^Am
kAmxE’D 2 =@E @7 A2A6CH@C< 7@C D@>6E9:?8 D@ D66>:?8=J >:?@C[ 3FE A6@A=6 86E A2DD:@?2E6 23@FE A=246 ?2>6D] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?JE:>6D]4@>^a_ad^_`^aa^4=:>2E6^56?2=:\>4<:?=6J\2=2D<2\ECF>A]9E>=QmxE E@@< c_ J62CDk^2m E@ C6?2>6 s6?2=: 7C@> E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?AD]8@G^56?2^=62C?^9:DE@CJ4F=EFC6^56?2=:\@C:8:?D]9E>Qm?2>6 6DE23=:D965 :? E96 =2E6 `hE9 46?EFCJk^2m[ |@F?E |4z:?=6J]k^Am
kAm%96 DE2E6 @7 p=2D<2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E968F2C5:2?]4@>^FD\?6HD^a_`d^D6A^_`^2=2D<2\?2E:G6D\56?2=:\?2>6\492?86\564256DQmC6BF6DE65 E96 ?2>6 492?86 :? `hfdk^2m[ 3FE E96 q@2C5 @? v6@8C2A9:4 }2>6D 5:5?’E E2<6 24E:@?] |6>36CD @7 E96 ~9:@ 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 56=682E:@? – !C6D:56?E (:==:2> |4z:?=6J H2D 7C@> ~9:@ – k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2=2D<23624@?]4@>^a_ac^`a^ad^ECF>AD\A=2?\E@\C6G6CE\56?2=:\E@\>@F?E\>4<:?=6J\?2>6\:C<D\2=2D<2?D^Qm@3;64E65 @G6C >2?J J62CDk^2m E@ C6BF6DED E@ C6?2>6 E96 >@F?E2:?[ 2?5 E96 3@2C5 5:5 ?@E 24E @? E9@D6 C6BF6DED]k^Am
kAm%96 AC6D:56?E 2AA@:?ED E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?E6C:@C\D64C6E2CJ\>2?286D\G2DE\=2?5D\E92E\2==\2>6C:42?D\D92C6\2?5\42?\DH2J\E96\32=2?46\36EH66?\4@?D6CG2E:@?\2?5\56G6=@A>6?E\acdggfQmD64C6E2CJ @7 E96 x?E6C:@C s6A2CE>6?Ek^2m] %96 D64C6E2CJ H@C<D H:E9 E96 9625D @7 C6=2E65 286?4:6D E@ 2AA@:?E E96 q@2C5 @? v6@8C2A9:4 }2>6D] r@>>:EE66 A@=:4J DE2E6D[ “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5h\HC6E]Db]FD\H6DE\a]2>2K@?2HD]4@>^2DD6ED^A2==25:F>^AC@5F4E:@?^Db7D\AF3=:4^>65:2^7:=6D^s}r0!!!]A57Qmx?AFE 7C@> $E2E6 86@8C2A9:4 ?2>6D 2FE9@C:E:6Dk^2m[ =2?5 >2?286>6?E 286?4:6D[ =@42= 8@G6C?>6?ED[ 2?5 %C:32= v@G6C?>6?ED 2C6 24E:G6=J AFCDF65]”k^Am
kAmx? a_`d[ !C6D:56?E q2C24< ~32>2 ?2>65 2 ?6H =6256C 7@C E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@32>2H9:E69@FD6]2C49:G6D]8@G^3=@8^a_`b^_a^_e^AC6D:56?E\@32>2\?2>6D\D2==J\;6H6==\=625\56A2CE>6?E\:?E6C:@CQms6A2CE>6?E @7 E96 x?E6C:@C[ $2==J y6H6==k^2m] yFDE 2D ~32>2 >256 2 EC:A E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]25?]4@>^AC6D:56?E\@32>2\:?\2=2D<2^2CE:4=6^@32>2\G:D:ED\D?@H\4:EJ\4276\92?5D92<6D\A:4EFC6D\2?5\`gad\32<65\8@@5D\8@^a_`d^_h^_a^Qmp=2D<2 :? =2E6 pF8FDE a_`dk^2m[ y6H6== 564=2C65 E96 ?2>6 492?86 @77:4:2= F?56C 2 =2H E92E 2==@HD E96 D64C6E2CJ @7 E96 x?E6C:@C E@ 492?86 2 ?2>6 :7 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FD8D]8@G^?6HD^762EFC65\DE@CJ^@=5\?2>6\@77:4:2==J\C6EFC?D\?2E:@?D\9:896DE\A62<Qm3@2C5 5@6D?’E 24E @? E96 AC@A@D2= :? 2 “C62D@?23=6” 2>@F?E @7 E:>6k^2m]k^Am
kAm“%9:D ?2>6 492?86 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FD8D]8@G^?6HD^762EFC65\DE@CJ^@=5\?2>6\@77:4:2==J\C6EFC?D\?2E:@?D\9:896DE\A62<QmC64@8?:K6D E96 D24C65 DE2EFD @7 s6?2=:k^2m E@ >2?J p=2D<2 }2E:G6D[” y6H6== D2:5] “%96 ?2>6 s6?2=: 92D 366? @77:4:2= 7@C FD6 3J E96 $E2E6 @7 p=2D<2 D:?46 `hfd[ 3FE 6G6? >@C6 :>A@CE2?E=J[ E96 >@F?E2:? 92D 366? <?@H? 2D s6?2=: 7@C 86?6C2E:@?D] (:E9 @FC @H? D6?D6 @7 C6G6C6?46 7@C E9:D A=246[ H6 2C6 @77:4:2==J C6?2>:?8 E96 >@F?E2:? s6?2=: :? C64@8?:E:@? @7 E96 EC25:E:@?D @7 p=2D<2 }2E:G6D 2?5 E96 DEC@?8 DFAA@CE @7 E96 A6@A=6 @7 p=2D<2]”k^Am
kAmx7 D@>6@?6 @3;64ED E@ 2 ?2>6 492?86[ E96J 4@F=5 2D< E96 4@FCED E@ CF=6 @? H96E96C E96 ?2>6 492?86 H2D >256 =682==J] v@:?8 324< E@ q56 |2<2 $<2[ D@>6 A6@A=6 @3;64E65 E@ 492?8:?8 E96 ?2>6 7C@> {2<6 r2=9@F?[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8C62E=2<6D?@H]@C8^a_a_^_d^2A\DFAC6>6\4@FCE\5?C\?2>6\=2<6\42=9@F?^QmD@ E96J E@@< E96 DE2E6 ?2EFC2= C6D@FC46D 286?4J E@ 4@FCEk^2m] tG6?EF2==J[ E96 |:??6D@E2 $FAC6>6 r@FCE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=2H];FDE:2]4@>^42D6D^>:??6D@E2^DFAC6>6\4@FCE^a_a_^2`g\`__f]9E>=QmCF=65 E92E E96 ?2>6 492?86 H2D 5@?6 4@CC64E=Jk^2m]k^Am
k9amw@H ?@E E@ 492?86 2 A=246 ?2>6k^9am
kAm#6?2>:?8 E96 vF=7 @7 |6I:4@ :D 2 5:776C6?E <:?5 @7 42D6[ 9@H6G6C[ 7C@> C6?2>:?8 2 86@8C2A9:4 A=246 H:E9:? &]$] 3@C56CD]k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?AD]8@G^8F:D^=62C?^?2EFC6^8F=7\@7\>6I:4@]9E>Qm%96 8F=7 :D ?@E H:E9:? E96 E6CC:E@C:2=k^2m &?:E65 $E2E6D] ~? E96 4@2DE[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?@22]8@G^>2C:E:>6\K@?6D\2?5\3@F?52C:6DQmE96 7:CDE `a >:=6D 7C@> D9@C6k^2m 2C6 4@?D:56C65 A2CE @7 E92E 4@F?ECJ[ 3FE @FED:56 @7 E92E :D :?E6C?2E:@?2= H2E6CD]k^Am
kAm%9@F89 E96 q@2C5 @? v6@8C2A9:4 }2>6D 92D 492?865 E96 ?2>6 E@ vF=7 @7 p>6C:42 @? @77:4:2= &]$] >2AD[ 2?5 6G6? :7 :E 2AAC@G6D E96 ?2>6 492?86 @7 {2<6 ~?E2C:@[ E96C6 :D ?@ :?E6C?2E:@?2= 3@2C5 :? 492C86 @7 A=246 ?2>6D] t249 4@F?ECJ 564:56D H92E E@ 42== A=246D] p?5 E96C6 :D ?@ @77:4:2= H2J 7@C E96 &]$] E@ >2<6 @E96C 4@F?EC:6D 492?86 E96 ?2>6D @? E96:C >2AD] xE’D A@DD:3=6[ 9@H6G6C[ E92E E96 &]$] 4@F=5 7@C>2==J 2D< @E96C 4@F?EC:6D E@ 492?86 2 ?2>6 @C 6G6? :>A@D6 D2?4E:@?D 282:?DE 4@F?EC:6D E92E 5@?’E 4@>A=J]k^Am
kAm}@H E92E E96 ?2>6D 92G6 366? 492?865 :? E96 &]$][ E96 8@G6C?>6?E FD6D E96> :? @77:4:2= 5@4F>6?ED[ D:8?286 2?5 >2AD] pD 7@C 2== E96 A6@A=6 2?5 4@>A2?:6D :? E96 H@C=5 E92E >2<6 >2AD[ E96J FDF2==J FD6 E96 @77:4:2= ?2>6D]k^Am
kAm%@52J[ H:56=J FD65 @?=:?6 >2AD[ :?4=F5:?8 v@@8=6 |2AD[ G2CJ E96 5:DA=2J @7 A=246 ?2>6D 32D65 @? E96 =@42E:@? 7C@> H9:49 J@F 2C6 G:6H:?8 E96 >2A] x7 J@F G:6H v@@8=6 |2AD 7C@> E96 &]$][ J@F H:== D66 E96 ?2>6 vF=7 @7 p>6C:42 5:DA=2J65j 7C@> |6I:4@[ J@F H:== D66 E96 >@C6 EC25:E:@?2= vF=7 @7 |6I:4@]k^Am
kAmv@@8=6 2?5 @E96C >2AA:?8 4@>A2?:6D 2=D@ 5@ E9:D H:E9 5:DAFE65 3@C56CD] x? 724E[ J@F 42? >2?F2==J 25;FDE J@FC D6EE:?8D E@ D9@H E96 >2A 2D :7 J@F H6C6 G:6H:?8 :E 7C@> 2?@E96C 4@F?ECJ]k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D :D 2? FA52E65 G6CD:@? @7 2 DE@CJ E92E H2D 7:CDE AF3=:D965 @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^42?\ECF>A\;FDE\@C56C\?6H\?2>6D\7@C\56?2=:\2?5\E96\8F=7\@7\>6I:4@\2\86@8C2A96C\6IA=2:?D\H9@\564:56D\H92E\8@6D\@?\E96\>2A\acg``aQmy2?] ac[ a_adk^2m]k^6>mk^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ah_ehgQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^:??:D7C66\>4<:??@?\ab_dg`dnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ah_ehgQmx??:D7C66 |4z:??@?k^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^F?:G6CD:EJ\@7\H:D4@?D:?\DE@FE\A@=JE649?:4\ebfenFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ah_ehgQm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 (:D4@?D:?\$E@FE !@=JE649?:4k^2mk^6>mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FD\42?252\EC256\H2C\566A6?D\2D\ECF>A\C6G:G6D\56AC6DD:@?\6C2\EC256\E@@=\H92ED\2E\DE2<6\7@C\4@?DF>6CD\2?5\E96\>:5E6C>D\ah_dehnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ah_ehgQm&$‑r2?252 EC256 H2C 566A6?D 2D %CF>A C6G:G6D s6AC6DD:@?‑6C2 EC256 E@@= – H92E’D 2E DE2<6 7@C 4@?DF>6CD 2?5 E96 >:5E6C>Dk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^J6D\ECF>A\42?\C6?2>6\E96\8F=7\@7\>6I:4@\;FDE\?@E\7@C\6G6CJ@?6\96C6D\9@H\:E\H@C<D\acg__hnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ah_ehgQm*6D[ %CF>A 42? C6?2>6 E96 vF=7 @7 |6I:4@ – ;FDE ?@E 7@C 6G6CJ@?6] w6C6’D 9@H :E H@C<Dk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H9J\E96\FD\42?252\EC256\H2C\4@F=5\492?86\9@H\2>6C:42?\72C>6CD\8C@H\E96:C\4C@AD\7@C\J62CD\ah_d_cnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ah_ehgQm(9J E96 &$‑r2?252 EC256 H2C 4@F=5 492?86 9@H p>6C:42? 72C>6CD 8C@H E96:C 4C@AD 7@C J62CDk^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?mx??:D7C66 |4z:??@? 5@6D ?@E H@C< 7@C[ 4@?DF=E[ @H? D92C6D :? @C C646:G6 7F?5:?8 7C@> 2?J 4@>A2?J @C @C82?:K2E:@? E92E H@F=5 36?67:E 7C@> E9:D 2CE:4=6[ 2?5 92D 5:D4=@D65 ?@ C6=6G2?E 277:=:2E:@?D 36J@?5 E96:C 24256>:4 2AA@:?E>6?E]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^ah_ehg^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am