Daily Weird News Report
A naming dispute over one of North America’s Great Lakes has moved from executive orders and digital maps to oversized roadside signs and surreal political videos.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiled a two-story billboard near Grimsby, Ontario, reading “Lake Ontario. Now and Always.” The sign was presented after U.S. President Donald Trump directed American federal agencies to use “Lake America” for the lake.
Trump’s order applies to U.S. government naming systems, including the Geographic Names Information System, which establishes standards for official U.S. maps. Google Maps subsequently displayed “Lake America” for users in the United States. Google said Canadian users would continue to see “Lake Ontario,” while users elsewhere would see both names.
The Guardian reported that Trump responded to Ontario’s sign by posting a video in which a depiction of him kicks it over and installs a replacement labeled “Lake America,” accompanied by dancing to the Village People song “YMCA.” He also shared AI-generated imagery showing Canada geese with blond hair firing rifles in defense of the renamed lake.
Canada has rejected the change. Prime Minister Mark Carney said the name Lake Ontario comes from a Wendat word meaning “the lake is beautiful, the lake is great,” and has been used for more than 400 years. Wendat Nation Grand Chief Pierre Picard described the U.S. move as an attempt to erase Indigenous history, culture and identity.
Ford said Trump was pursuing the renaming because Canada and Ontario were standing up for themselves, adding that the traditional name would remain after Trump was gone. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew also mocked the move, comparing it to an aging rock band replaying an old hit.
The dispute is unfolding alongside stalled negotiations and a broader trade conflict. The United States has imposed a 50% tariff on Canadian steel, while Ottawa has responded with tariffs of its own. Lake Ontario, the smallest by surface area of the five Great Lakes, covers about 7,340 square miles.
