House Democrats move to block Trump’s attempt to rename Lake Ontario as 'Lake America'

A group of House Democrats introduced the “Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act” on Monday in an attempt to block President Donald Trump from renaming Lake Ontario after the United States.

The legislation seeks to prevent the Trump administration from renaming the great lake "Lake America," after the president signed an executive order last week that authorized the name change over tension with Canada. 

The order directed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to work with the Board on Geographic Names to reflect the new name. It explains that the U.S. claims most of the lake's volume, and its deepest parts lie within the U.S. 

Democratic Reps. Debbie Dingell of Michigan, Timothy Kennedy of New York and Joseph Morelle of New York introduced the legislation, which seeks to bar administration officials from renaming any of the five Great Lakes: Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Lake Ontario.

“Our families, workers, and businesses need an administration focused on lowering costs and strengthening our economy, not distractions,” Kennedy said in a joint release. “Renaming a lake won’t put food on the table, lower anyone’s bills, or create a single job. It is a pathetic attempt to distract from an affordability crisis that this President has failed to fix.”

Dingell said she hoped the legislation would make the president “turn his attention to his reckless trade war that is raising costs and threatening American workers.”

The moves come after the Trump administration imposed 50% tariffs on Canadian goods ranging from alcohol to hockey skates earlier this month after Ottawa failed to sign off on a trade deal. Canada immediately retaliated, with Carney suspending trade negotiations with the U.S. and ordering retaliatory tariffs against American-made products.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.