Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
President Trump has suggested renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America" as a new jab against Canada amid a rapidly escalating trade war. Following the collapse of recent trade talks, the Trump administration announced plans to impose massive 50% tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, auto parts, and steel, starting January 1st. In response, Canada is not backing down. Starting September 8th, the Canadian government has vowed to hit back by matching U.S. tariffs dollar-for-dollar on over 700 American goods, ranging from steel to dairy. This retaliation follows the U.S. placing 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods last week, after Trump publicly labeled Canada "unreasonable and entitled." While the President cannot unilaterally rename an international body of water like Lake Ontario, he can issue an executive order directing U.S. federal agencies to use the name "Lake America"—a tactic previously used when he mandated federal agencies refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America." Though the name change is grabbing headlines, economists warn the escalating trade war poses a much more significant threat to the economy and consumer prices.
President Trump has suggested renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America" as a new jab against Canada amid a rapidly escalating trade war. Following the collapse of recent trade talks, the Trump administration announced plans to impose massive 50% tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, auto parts, and steel, starting January 1st. In response, Canada is not backing down. Starting September 8th, the Canadian government has vowed to hit back by matching U.S. tariffs dollar-for-dollar on over 700 American goods, ranging from steel to dairy. This retaliation follows the U.S. placing 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods last week, after Trump publicly labeled Canada "unreasonable and entitled." While the President cannot unilaterally rename an international body of water like Lake Ontario, he can issue an executive order directing U.S. federal agencies to use the name "Lake America"—a tactic previously used when he mandated federal agencies refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America." Though the name change is grabbing headlines, economists warn the escalating trade war poses a much more significant threat to the economy and consumer prices.
