Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing federal agencies to refer to Lake Ontario as “Lake America,” giving one of Central New York’s most recognizable landmarks a new federal name.
The order applies to the federal government, but it does not require New York communities, Canada or the public to adopt the new name.
That distinction is especially notable in Oswego County, which voted for Trump in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 presidential elections.
Along the Lake Ontario shoreline, CNY Central found opposition to the name change from both Trump supporters and critics of the president.
Robert Code, an Oswego County resident who said he has supported Trump from the beginning, said the lake should keep its longtime name.
“I’ve been on his side all the way, right from day one, but I think he’s losing it here,” Code said. “I just assumed that remained Lake Ontario.”
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WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing federal agencies to refer to Lake Ontario as “Lake America,” giving one of Central New York’s most recognizable landmarks a new federal name.
The order applies to the federal government, but it does not require New York communities, Canada or the public to adopt the new name.
That distinction is especially notable in Oswego County, which voted for Trump in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 presidential elections.
Along the Lake Ontario shoreline, CNY Central found opposition to the name change from both Trump supporters and critics of the president.
Robert Code, an Oswego County resident who said he has supported Trump from the beginning, said the lake should keep its longtime name.
“I’ve been on his side all the way, right from day one, but I think he’s losing it here,” Code said. “I just assumed that remained Lake Ontario.”
_______________
Follow WLOS on social media:
WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: facebook.com/News13
WLOS ABC 13 News on X: https://x.com/WLOS_13
WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: instagram.com/wlos_13
Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_confirmation=1
For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit wlos.com
Stream our newscasts LIVE: wlos.com/watch
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@wlos.com
Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340
--
WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com
