Zollstreit: Kanada versus Trump: Lake Ontario - für jetzt und für immer

In a dispute with former US President Donald Trump over the correct name for a lake located on the border between the two nations, the leader of Ontario, Canada, Doug Ford, has asserted that Lake Ontario will retain its name "for now and forever." Ford, in a brief video posted on the social media platform X, poses in a red jersey representing Canada's national football team in front of a large blue sign, which states in English and French, "Lake Ontario - Now and Always" or "Lac Ontario - Aujourd'hui et pour toujours."

Ford emphasized that the lake has been known as Lake Ontario long before Trump's presidency and will continue to be called by that name even after Trump leaves the White House. He urged anyone who might have forgotten this point to remember that the lake is indeed called Lake Ontario - now and forever.

Earlier this week, Trump had renamed the border lake as "Lake America" as part of an ongoing trade dispute with Canada. He linked the move to an economic aspect, stating that the United States no longer planned to conduct significant trade with Ontario. Canada, the country's most populous province, is closely intertwined with the US economy. Following the breakdown of trade talks between the governments in Washington and Ottawa just over a week ago, the dispute between the neighboring countries has escalated.

Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes, with three others bordering both the US and Canada. The name of the lake dates back to the 17th century before the US and Canada were established as independent countries. Ontario's provincial government chief has previously called Trump a "dictator," a "loser," and a "king of bankruptcies."

The Canadian government had indicated that it would not recognize Trump's attempt to rename Lake Ontario on its own. Trump has used name changes like these in his second term as a means of demonstrating power. He previously renamed the Gulf of Mexico to "Golf de l'Amérique" and skipped naming North America's highest mountain in Alaska, Mount McKinley.