Canadian Mayor Jokes She’s Now ‘Head of America’ After Trump Renames Lake Ontario

On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order officially renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America," according to wire reports. In response to the renaming, Andrea Horwath, the mayor of Hamilton, Ontario, made a humorous comment during an appearance on CNN's "The Lead." Horwath playfully pondered whether being the "head of the lake" would make her the "head of America."

The mayor jestingly suggested that if she were the head of America, she would prioritize reducing tariffs and stimulating the economy. This isn't the first time Trump has used his executive powers to rename bodies of water; in January 2025, the president renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America." As tensions rise over Trump's tariff war with Canada, Horwath emphasized her focus remains on supporting local workers and addressing economic challenges rather than engaging in the "silly name games."

The renaming has garnered mixed reactions, with some political figures across the spectrum joking about it, while others critiqued it as a trivial distraction from more pressing issues such as healthcare, childcare, housing, education, and nutrition assistance.