Trump mulls renaming Lake Ontario as ‘Lake America.’ Canadians balk at the idea

WINDSOR, Ontario (AP) – With his trade war with Canada intensifying, U.S.

What happened

WINDSOR, Ontario (AP) – With his trade war with Canada intensifying, U.S. President Donald Trump floated the idea of renaming Lake Ontario to become "Lake America." America's northern neighbors rapidly panned the idea.

As she walked along the waterfront of the Detroit River, "He can blow out his hole as much as he wants to, but it's never going to happen, because Canadians are strong, " remarked Patricia Wiseman, an Ontario resident.

It may be more complicated than that. Trump has wide latitude over how the U.S. Administration recognizes geographic places and landmarks. But he cannot force Canada or individual citizens on either side of the border to follow his preferred naming conventions. And his latest branding idea – reminiscent of his move to rechristen the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" – highlights how much his rhetoric and trade policy have sundered the previously warm relationship between Washington and Ottawa.

The bottom line

For now, trump mulls renaming Lake Ontario as Lake America. Canadians balk at the remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.