Lawmaker Fights to Keep Lake Ontario's Name

Rep. Debbie Dingell, a Democrat from Michigan, plans to introduce a bill that would cancel President Trump's order to rename Lake Ontario. Trump signed an executive order changing the lake's name to 'Lake America' as part of a trade dispute with Canada. Dingell confirmed the bill on social media platform X on Thursday. Lake Ontario sits on the border between the United States and Canada and is one of the five Great Lakes.

Dingell's bill is called the 'Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act.' It is only one page long, but it would make Trump's executive order have 'no force or effect' and bring back the name Lake Ontario. Dingell shared a draft of the bill online and said it was real. She made clear she believes the lake's name should not be changed by a presidential order.

In a press release on Thursday, Dingell said the lake 'will always be Lake Ontario.' She said that Canada is an important partner to the United States, especially for Michigan. 'It is a friendship that no stroke of a pen can erase,' she said. She also criticized Trump's focus on renaming the lake while many Americans are dealing with rising prices and job losses.

The name change is tied to a larger trade war between the U.S. and Canada. The conflict started when Canada stopped negotiating with the United States, and the Trump administration placed 50 percent tariffs — extra taxes — on many Canadian goods. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney then promised to match those tariffs starting September 8. Experts say these taxes will likely raise prices for everyday American shoppers.

Trade between the U.S. and Canada is very large. According to the U.S. Trade Representative's office, the two countries exchanged about $872.3 billion worth of goods and services in 2025. That shows how closely connected the two countries' economies are. Many people on both sides of the border worry that the trade war could cause serious harm.

Dingell had spoken out against Trump even before he signed the renaming order. After Trump first threatened to rename the lake on Tuesday, Dingell joked that it should be called 'Lake Natalie' — after a White House aide named Natalie Harp. She said the joke was meant to push the president to pay more attention to protecting the Great Lakes. Dingell has long been a supporter of Great Lakes conservation.