WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump sailed into a fight with Canada by designating a new name for Lake Ontario, but political observers questioned how long the political storm would distract from the six-month mark of the war in Iran.
Trump initially called the war an “excursion,” a "skirmish" and a "little detour" that would be over "very soon" and was going "very fast." But after reaching six months of war on Aug. 28, Trump’s week – and social media feed – was filled with White House renovations and renaming a border lake.
“Trump’s technique of distraction often works, but a spat with Canada about renaming Lake Ontario isn’t big enough to work for long,” Larry Sabato, a political science professor and director of the Center for Politics at the University
of Virginia, told USA TODAY. “Today Trump hit the 40% mark of his term. That’s a number his approval ratingmay never reach again.”
Canadians shrugged off name change as 'foolishness' and 'shenanigans'
Trump's other recent priorities included restoring his name to the Kennedy Center’s façade and building a new White House helipad and ballroom. But while the Kennedy Center and ballroom generated court battles, Trump directed the name change for the lake with the stroke of a pen.
The change from Lake Ontario to Lake America – like renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America or the Defense Department the War Department – isn’t codified in law.
Canadians shrugged off Trump’s executive order and said the rest of the world would ignore it, calling it “foolishness” and “shenanigans.”
John Pitney Jr., a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College, called the lake renaming “a weak distraction tactic” that will only last a day or two.
“Trump is trying to look tough, but he just looks ridiculous,” Pitney told USA TODAY.
GOP governors oppose Trump's change in lake name
Jeffrey Blehar wrote in National Review, a conservative opinion magazine, that changing the lake’s name was a “stupid publicity stunt” and an “unsuccessful” distraction.
“Trump will fight to rename the Great Lakes, or demolish the Kennedy Center – anything to keep the media from talking about the economy or the war in Iran,” Blehar wrote.
Some fellow Republicans mapped a path away from Trump.
GOP Rep. Tom Tiffany, who is running for governor in Wisconsin with Trump’s endorsement, told a campaign event Aug. 27 that “the Great Lakes are the Great Lakes and should stay Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario.”
Republican Vermont Gov. Phil Scott called the name change "petty and disappointing."
Trump contrasts length of Iran war with Iraq
Trump drew attention by criticizing his predecessor for getting stuck in a long-running war in the Middle East.
Trump posted twice an image saying "MISSION NOT ACCOMPLISHED" next to former President George W. Bush, who gave a celebratory speech six weeks into the Iraq war in 2003.
But Trump’s image featured a sign that said "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" next to a picture of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war Feb. 28. Trump has also promoted the destruction of Iran's nuclear facilities and navy, and the reduction in missile and drone capabilities, as measures of success.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, noted that the War Powers Act required Trump to withdraw forces within 90 days unless he got authorization from Congress. The administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, argued the war was over with a ceasefire and that hostilities then resumed.
“We are past 180 days,” Massie said on social media Aug. 28. “End the war.”
'Are we great yet?' Democrat asked about Trump renaming a lake
Trump’s political rivals were even harsher.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, called the picture for both “missions” the same. Schumer called the lake change “sad and pathetic.”
“While the Trump administration spews blatant lies about their failure in Iran, the reality is that 6 months in, the Iranians are holding the Strait hostage, gas is up to record highs, and 18 servicemembers have died – all while Trump still has no strategy to end the disaster of a war he started,” Schumer said on social media Aug. 27.
Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Illinois, said instead of ending the war and bringing down prices, Trump renamed a lake.
“Are we great yet?” Quigley asked in a social media post Aug. 27.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Publicity stunt.' Trump's lake name change called distraction from Iran war
