Opposition to Renaming Lake Ontario in New York

A port city in New York on the shores of Lake Ontario has firmly rejected President Donald Trump’s attempt to rename the lake as “Lake America.” Despite being part of a county that voted overwhelmingly for Trump—62 percent to 38 percent in the 2024 presidential election—the community and its leaders are voicing strong opposition to the proposed change.

The proposal followed a breakdown in trade negotiations between the U.S. and Canada, prompting Trump to declare that the U.S. was “giving serious consideration” to the new name because of diminished business expectations with Ontario. Last week, Trump took further steps, signing an executive order instructing the Interior Department to update the name in official U.S. geographic records.

Public opinion polls indicate that most Americans disagree with changing the name of the lake, which has been in use for centuries. In Oswego County, New York, local sentiment mirrors this national perspective as residents and lawmakers express frustration over the suggested name change.

“Lake Ontario has carried its name for hundreds of years,” stated Oswego Mayor Robert Corradino. “It is a name rooted in history, geography, and the shared identity of the communities that surround it.”

Mayor Corradino, a Republican, publicly declared that the city government stands against Trump’s executive order and sees no justification for altering the lake’s name. Additionally, bipartisan members of the Oswego County Legislature advanced a resolution opposing the “Lake America” designation. It highlighted the “longstanding historical and geographic significance” of Lake Ontario and emphasized the “significant cost to taxpayers and businesses” that renaming it would entail.

This story is developing, and further updates are expected.