U.S. President Donald Trump recently issued an executive order to change the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” sparking mixed reactions among Americans, particularly in the House of Representatives. In response, Democratic representatives Tim Kennedy, Joe Morelle, and Debbie Dingell introduced the Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act to reverse the renaming of Lake Ontario and prevent any future alterations to the names of the Great Lakes.
This move follows Google’s decision to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America” on its Google Maps app for U.S. users, while Trump reportedly contacted Apple to make a similar change on Apple Maps. However, MapQuest declared on social media that it would not alter the name.
Kennedy, representing an electoral district near Canada, discussed the motivation behind reversing the name change in the U.S. during an interview with The Current host Paul Hunter. He emphasized the urgency to rescind the executive order and criticized Trump’s diversionary tactics amid economic challenges and strained international relations.
The bill introduced by the three representatives aims to address the president’s controversial actions, including the tariff disputes with Canada and the renaming of Lake Ontario. Kennedy highlighted the importance of maintaining strong ties with Canada and emphasized the intertwined relationship between the two countries, both culturally and economically.
Despite potential challenges in garnering support from the current Republican majority in the House, Kennedy remains optimistic about the bill’s prospects. He cited previous bipartisan efforts to counter the president’s tariffs and expressed confidence in the forthcoming midterm elections, anticipating a significant shift in congressional dynamics to restore accountability and stability in the government.