President Donald Trump directed federal agencies to refer to Lake Ontario as “Lake America” in official documents, according to an executive order signed on Thursday. The decision follows a series of AI-generated videos posted to Truth Social depicting armed Donald Ducks and militant Canada geese patrolling the body of water amid an escalating trade war between the United States and Canada.
Executive Action and Digital Trolling Over Lake Ontario
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing federal agencies to use the name “Lake America” for Lake Ontario in all official documents and records. The action formalizes a rebranding effort that began earlier in the week when the 80-year-old president posted a TikTok video showing himself marking up a map of the lake with a Sharpie, stating, “We’re gonna make a little change; we’re gonna call it something different than Lake Ontario.”
The formal directive mirrors a similar rebranding effort last year targeting the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” While the executive order mandates usage across U.S. federal agencies, the president cannot compel foreign nations, private entities, or U.S. states to adopt the new nomenclature.
AI-Generated Videos Feature Armed Geese and Donald Ducks
Hours after signing the order while visiting his Virginia golf course, President Trump published artificial intelligence-generated videos on Truth Social. The first clip features a 34-second sequence set to the theme song from Hawaii Five-O, showing a squadron of Canada geese with human arms carrying assault rifles while marching near the Great Lake, with a nearby city skyline resembling Toronto visible as fireworks erupt.
Another video posted later that day shows an army of buff, bequiffed, and heavily armed “Donald Ducks” patrolling the shores of “Lake America,” followed by footage of the president knocking over a “Welcome to Lake Ontario” sign, installing a “Welcome to Lake America” replacement, and dancing to the Village People’s “YMCA.”
Canadian Officials Respond to Tariffs and Rebranding
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized the rebranding effort in a Thursday post on X, noting that the name Lake Ontario derives from the Wendat word Ontari’io, meaning “the lake is beautiful, the lake is big.” Carney wrote that the 400-year-old name predates both the Canadian Confederation and the U.S. Declaration of Independence, adding, “Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario – then, now and always.”
The diplomatic friction coincides with a severe trade dispute between the neighboring nations. On August 22, the U.S. imposed 50 percent tariffs on approximately $20 billion worth of Canadian exports after talks broke down, with Washington accusing Canada of discriminating against American businesses. Prime Minister Carney denied the allegations, characterizing the levies as an act of war and retaliating with tariffs of up to 50 percent on U.S. goods.
Did you know? While U.S. presidential executive orders can mandate terminology for federal agencies and official maps, the U.S.
War of Words Escalates Between Leaders
The tariff dispute has expanded into personal verbal attacks among leadership on both sides of the border. Earlier in the week, President Trump targeted Ontario Premier Doug Ford via a Truth Social post, characterizing him as a blustering “flunky” who needed to “fall in line.”
Premier Ford delivered a sharp response during a subsequent news conference, labeling the U.S. president a “dictator,” a “bully,” and the “king of bankruptcies,” while also telling Trump to “kiss my a**.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the U.S. president unilaterally rename Lake Ontario?
The president can direct federal agencies to use a specific name in official documents and records, but this authority does not apply to foreign governments, state governments, or private mapmakers.
What is the origin of the name Lake Ontario?
According to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, the name originates from the Wendat word Ontari’io, which translates to “the lake is beautiful, the lake is big,” and has been used for over 400 years.
Why are the U.S. and Canada in a trade dispute?
The U.S. administration imposed 50 percent tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian goods on August 22 following failed trade negotiations and accusations of discrimination against American companies, prompting immediate retaliatory tariffs from Ottawa.
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