On August 27, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the United States federal government to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America.”
The executive order directs the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Board on Geographic Names to update the Geographic Names Information System and begin using Lake America across federal maps, documents, contracts, and other government communications.
Why Lake America?
In the executive order, the Trump administration highlighted the lake’s long history and importance to the United States.
The lake has played a major role in American commerce, transportation, military history, energy, and the development of communities throughout New York and the broader Great Lakes region. The order also points to American investment in protecting the Great Lakes ecosystem and maintaining commercial shipping throughout the region.
The change follows another major geographic renaming by the Trump administration: the 2025 decision to use Gulf of America in place of Gulf of Mexico for U.S. federal purposes.
What Happens to the Name Lake Ontario?
The executive order changes how the lake is identified by the U.S. federal government, but that doesn't mean the entire world will immediately begin calling it Lake America.
The lake is shared by the United States and Canada, and the U.S. government cannot require Canada to adopt the new name. That means you may continue to see Lake Ontario used in Canada, internationally, and by organizations outside the U.S. federal government.
For Americans, however, the signing marks the beginning of a new name in federal usage: Lake America.
The Beginning of Lake America
For generations, the lake has been part of the identity of communities across Upstate New York and the Great Lakes.
From boating and fishing to summer weekends, sunsets, waterfront towns, and memories made along the shoreline, the lake represents much more than a name on a map.
The signing on August 27, 2026, created a new chapter in that history — and inspired the beginning of Lake America Clothing.
Our collection of T-shirts, hoodies, and hats celebrates the lake, the Great Lakes lifestyle, and a moment in American history that people will remember for years to come.
Whether you grew up along the shoreline, spend your summers on the water, or simply want to represent Lake America, our apparel was created to capture that moment.
Lake America. EST. 2026.