Washington: Following US President Donald Trump’s executive order renaming Lake Ontario—located on the Canada–US border—to “Lake America,” an American lawmaker has proposed changing the name of another major body of water in the region. Republican Representative David Maloney from Pennsylvania has called for renaming Lake Erie to “Lake Pennsylvania”.
Representative Maloney announced that he is drafting a resolution requesting President Donald Trump, the US Congress, and the Department of the Interior to formally rename the lake. He noted that Lake Erie is the only Great Lake bordering Pennsylvania and emphasized its critical role in the state’s economy, tourism, boating, and fishing industries. Maloney argued that Ohio has a extensive coastline, New York borders two other Great Lakes, and Canada borders four, making “Lake Pennsylvania” an appropriate name for the body of water linked to his state.
Trump’s initial decision to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America” came last month following a diplomatic dispute with Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Despite the executive order, Canadian authorities, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Democratic lawmakers in the US, have rejected the change, emphasizing that the lake’s name predates both nations and holds significant historical value.
