New York officials are reacting to President Donald Trump's executive order directing the federal government to rename Lake Ontario as "Lake America."
Trump signed the order Aug. 27 in the Oval Office as trade tensions between the United States and Canada continue to escalate.
"If you think about it, we have a gulf and we have a lake, now all we need is an ocean," Trump said during the signing ceremony, comparing the move to his administration's renaming of the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. "So maybe we'll have to change the name of the Atlantic and/or the Pacific."
The order directs the Interior Department and U.S. Board on Geographic Names to update the federal Geographic Names Information System and other government references within
30 days. Federal agencies will be required to use "Lake America" on maps, contracts and other official documents.
Canada will continue using Lake Ontario name
The order applies only to the U.S. government. Canada is not required to adopt the name change, and Canadian officials have said they will continue to call the lake Lake Ontario.
Here is how New York officials are reacting to the order.
Rep. Joe Morelle criticizes Lake Ontario name change
U.S. Rep. Joseph Morelle, D-25, criticized the order, calling it a distraction from trade tensions with Canada.
"Pretending to rename a lake is an attempted distraction from the President's disastrous trade talks with Canada. While Rochester families deal with the impacts of a trade war he started, President Trump is playing games with a map."
Morelle added: "We deserve better than this."
Chuck Schumer calls order 'sad and pathetic'
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also reacted to the renaming order on X, writing: "Sad and Pathetic. Unable to solve a single problem facing Americans, this is what Trump resorts to. Voters will respond accordingly in November."
Hakeem Jeffries, Tim Kennedy also react
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of Brooklyn also criticized the executive order on X, saying Trump is "spending your tax dollars to rename Lake Ontario."
Rep. Tim Kennedy, D-26, criticized the proposed name change in a statement posted on X on Aug. 25.
"If Donald Trump spent half as much time trying to make life more affordable as he does trying to rename bodies of water, working families might actually be able to afford their rent, utility bills, and food costs," Kennedy wrote.
More reactions expected from New York officials
The Democrat and Chronicle has reached out to Democratic and Republican state and local officials for comment and is awaiting responses.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: New York officials react to Trump renaming Lake Ontario 'Lake America'
