Rejecting Lake Renaming
AP and Great Lakes Ports Reject Trump's Order to Rename Lake Ontario
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Key Points
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The Port of Oswego is New York’s only state-run port on Lake Ontario and the first U.S. stop for ships entering the Great Lakes from the St. Lawrence Seaway. It handles about 120 ships and roughly 100,000 metric tons of aluminum annually, much of it for nearby Novelis.
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Port of Oswego CEO Tom Drumm said the naming dispute was an “ego contest and a waste of time,” urging leaders to focus on restoring business stability because the broader trade conflict is affecting workers’ jobs.
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A recent Ipsos poll found that only 14% of Americans approved of renaming the lake, while 63% opposed the change. Several mapping apps, including Apple’s, nevertheless adopted the new name; MapQuest’s refusal reportedly helped propel it to the top of Apple’s app chart among boycott supporters.
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Ontario Premier Doug Ford endorsed the original name, writing that the lake is “Lake Ontario to Canadians and the rest of the world. Now and forever.”
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The AP has distinguished the lake dispute from Trump’s renaming of North America’s highest peak: it uses “Mount McKinley” because the mountain lies entirely within the United States and the president has authority over federal geographical names there, whereas Lake Ontario is shared with Canada.
The Associated Press will keep calling it Lake Ontario, rejecting President Trump's executive order to rename the Great Lake "Lake America." AP says the order only applies to federal agencies and doesn't bind Canada, other countries, or independent news organizations. The refusal marks the latest clash between Trump and the media over geographical names.
New York's Port of Oswego, the state's only state-run port on the lake, also rejected the change. CEO Tom Drumm called the dispute an "ego contest and a waste of time," saying leaders should focus on restoring business stability instead. The port handles roughly 100,000 metric tons of cargo annually.
Most Americans Oppose the Lake Rename
Only 14% of Americans approved of renaming Lake Ontario, while 63% opposed the change, according to Ipsos. Yet some major tech companies moved quickly. Apple Maps and several other mapping apps adopted Trump's new name. MapQuest's refusal to change reportedly helped it top Apple's app chart among boycott supporters.
Port of Oswego Warns of Business Disruption
The Port of Oswego sits on New York's only state-run port facility on the lake. It's the first U.S. stop for ships entering the Great Lakes from the St. Lawrence Seaway. The port moves roughly 120 ships per year and handles about 100,000 metric tons of aluminum annually, much of it destined for nearby Novelis.
CEO Drumm said the naming fight creates unnecessary friction for shipping operations. He urged leaders to focus on trade stability because broader trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada are already affecting workers' jobs and economic growth in the region.
Why AP Treats This Differently From Mount McKinley
The AP distinguished this dispute from Trump's earlier renaming of Denali to Mount McKinley. AP uses "Mount McKinley" because the mountain lies entirely within the United States, where the president has clear authority over federal geographical names. Lake Ontario is shared with Canada, so Trump's order carries less weight internationally.
Canada's Leadership Sides With the Original Name
Ontario Premier Doug Ford endorsed keeping the original name in a direct message. "Lake Ontario to Canadians and the rest of the world. Now and forever," Ford wrote. The stance reflects Canada's growing friction with Trump over trade and tariff threats, adding political weight to the naming battle.
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