Following through on his threat to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America amid a trade battle with Canada, President Donald Trump signed an executive order making the change.
"With the deepest parts of the Lake’s waters lying within United States territory, the United States claims most of the Lake’s volume," reads his order signed Thursday, Aug. 27. "In recognition of this flourishing economic resource and its critical importance to our Nation’s economy and its people, I am directing that the Lake officially be renamed as Lake America."
The move comes after trade negotiations with Canada fell apart, prompting new tariffs.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has escalated tensions with the United States' northern neighbor, referring to Canada
as the "51st state." In Michigan, rising tensions and economic strain between the two countries have coincided with a drop in Canadian tourism.
While Lake Ontario doesn't border Michigan, the move by Trump is likely to become political fodder in the battleground Great Lakes State. Michigan Democrats have railed against the tariffs, arguing they compound cost-of-living challenges under Trump as they run against candidates backed by the president in key races for governor and Congress.
Some have taken to social media to note that the acronym often used to refer to the Great Lakes of Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior – "HOMES" – would spell out "SHAME" with the name change Lake America.
Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump renames Lake Ontario to Lake America in executive order
