Oswego Rejects Proposed Name Change for Lake Ontario

A port city in New York, located on the shores of Lake Ontario in a county that supported Donald Trump in the 2024 election, has opposed the president’s attempt to rename the body of water to “Lake America.”

After a breakdown in trade talks with Canada, Trump mentioned that the U.S. was considering this name change due to diminished business prospects with Ontario. Last week, he issued an executive order for the Interior Department to update the lake’s name in the national geographic naming registry.

Surveys indicate that most Americans disagree with changing the longstanding name. Similarly, the county of Oswego, which Trump secured with 62% of the vote, seems to oppose the rename. Local lawmakers and residents have voiced frustration with the proposal.

This week, Oswego Mayor Robert Corradino, a Republican, released a statement expressing that the city’s authorities do not support Trump’s executive order. He sees no justification for changing the historic name of the lake.

Lake Ontario has carried its name for hundreds of years. It is a name rooted in history, geography, and the shared identity of the communities that surround it.

Furthermore, both Republican and Democratic members of the Oswego County Legislature advanced a resolution against the “Lake America” renaming. This resolution highlighted the lake’s historical and geographical significance along with the considerable expenses that renaming would impose on taxpayers and businesses.

This situation is ongoing, with further updates expected.