‘It’s childish’: Americans in Canada react to Trump’s renaming of Lake Ontario

Many Americans who have chosen to make Canada their home are expressing outrage over U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to rename Lake Ontario to "Lake America." Retired law professor Ben Davis called the move "so beneath the office of the United States president" and deemed it "pitiful." The lake's name has been mentioned in the 1794 Canandaigua Treaty signed by George Washington, and Davis argues that it was good enough for him.

Over a million Americans, including long-term residents and dual citizens, reside in Canada, according to 2023 estimates. Dawna E. Wade, who lives with her wife in Annapolis Royal, N.S., dismisses Trump's attempt to rename the lake as "ridiculous" and "nonsense," stating that he does not have the authority to do so unilaterally.

The executive order only holds sway in the United States and has been widely dismissed in Canada. Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney have both stated that Lake Ontario will continue to be known by its traditional name, regardless of Trump's actions. Despite the widespread rejection of the name change, the order has garnered some support, with only 14% of Americans surveyed supporting the move in a recent Ipsos/Reuters poll.

For some, the move to Canada was driven by safety concerns, including Wade and her wife, who moved from North Carolina in May due to their sexual orientation, Jewish faith, and left-leaning politics. Chris Palermo, an American living in Hamilton with his Canadian wife, criticized Google and Apple for labeling the lake "Lake America" in their U.S. maps, deeming the action a "useless" knee-jerk reaction.

Some Americans believe Trump's actions are a desperate attempt to divert attention from his domestic failures and unpopular policies, such as the trade war, the war in Iran, and the Epstein files scandal.