Trump renames Lake Ontario to Lake America as DOJ disputes Kennedy Center naming

President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order on Thursday afternoon that officially renamed Lake Ontario “Lake America.” The move, announced amid heightened tensions in the U.S.–Canada trade war, follows Trump’s earlier public suggestion that the Great Lakes be renamed to reflect American identity. The order, which takes effect immediately, is part of a broader effort by the administration to assert national sovereignty over geographic nomenclature.

In a separate legal proceeding, Trump’s attempt to rename the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., after himself returned to court. A judge heard arguments Thursday about whether the former president’s name can be affixed to the cultural institution, a dispute that has drawn attention to the limits of executive influence over federal landmarks. The case is pending further rulings, and its outcome will determine whether the Kennedy Center will retain its historic designation.