Ford responds to Trump's renaming effort with Lake Ontario 'Now and Always' sign

Ontario Premier Doug Ford confirmed to President Donald Trump on Saturday that the name of Lake Ontario will remain unchanged despite Trump's executive order renaming it "Lake America." Ford assured reporters that "the rest of the world will always call it Lake Ontario," emphasizing Canada's and Ontario's resilience and determination to protect their sovereignty.

This comes after trade talks between the two nations unraveled last week. Trump had previously criticized Canada's trade policies during a speech in the Oval Office. Ontario Premier Mark Carney responded to the name change on Thursday, stating that the lake's name would remain "now and always." The sign unveiling in Winona, Ontario, displayed the text, as well as a note about the lake's name's origin from the Wendat word "Ontari'io," meaning "the lake is beautiful, the lake is big."

Some U.S. politicians and online map providers criticized the renaming, with MapQuest stating they would not change the name on their maps. Several U.S. governors, including Tony Evers and JB Pritzker, jokingly declared their own lakes by other names, referencing Trump's closest aide Natalie Harp. The president has not backed down, posting multiple images and videos on his Truth Social platform, including one where AI-generated Canada geese march with weapons, referencing "Lake America."

Trump claims the U.S. has a stake in Lake Ontario's volume, security, economic activity, and environmental stewardship, directing the U.S. government to use the new name in all federal references. Democrats and U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have criticized the move, accusing Trump of prioritizing his grievances over American priorities, such as inflation, the Iran war, and trade disputes.