Trump’s ‘Lake America’ plan sparks Canadian anger

U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked controversy in Canada by proposing to rename Lake Ontario as "Lake America." The plan adds to an already tense trade dispute between the two nations and has drawn strong opposition from Canadians living near the border.Turning to a wire report, Ontario resident Patricia Wiseman told the Associated Press (AP) that "he can blow out his hole as much as he wants to, but it's never going to happen, because Canadians are strong."The proposal came just hours before Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was set to announce reciprocal tariffs on U.S. imports.

Trump stated that the United States is considering the name change because it does not anticipate doing much business with Ontario.Trump's administration has already imposed 50% tariffs on about $20 billion worth of Canadian goods and has threatened further tariffs on Canadian vehicles, auto parts, and steel. Canadian Prime Minister Carney has accused the U.S. of trying to "destroy our major industries."Ontario Premier Doug Ford dismissed the name change proposal as "a lot of rhetoric" and called for the two countries to return to negotiations.

He acknowledged that the dispute had "got a little personal" and urged both sides to "get back to the table" to negotiate.Trump's name change proposal is the latest move in his effort to reshape geographic landmarks in the United States. The Lake Ontario name has roots that predate both the United States and Canada, but Trump has also suggested that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.

The dispute over geographic names has precedents within the United States itself, with President Obama previously attempting to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America."