Mayor Robert Corradino has spent his entire life in Oswego, New York. As the only commercial port city on the southeastern shore of Lake Ontario, the lake's name is ubiquitous here, from streets and convention centers to historical forts.

Corradino, a Republican who voted for President Donald Trump, expressed concern that the political dispute could erase part of the city's history.

"This Lake Ontario is part of our identity," Corradino stated.

President Trump signs the renaming executive order next to a map labeled "Lake America" on 27/8. Photo: Reuters

Following President Trump's executive order to rename Lake Ontario to "Lake America," Corradino and many mayors in northern New York called the decision "unfortunate." They fear this move will not only upset local voters but also severely impact an economy closely linked to US-Canada relations.

Oswego County is one of the state's strongest Republican strongholds, with 61% of voters casting ballots for Trump in the 2024 election. Nevertheless, on 31/8, some Oswego County lawmakers from both parties passed a resolution rejecting the new name, citing concerns over the renaming costs that taxpayers and businesses would bear.

Opposition was not limited to Oswego. Just hours after Trump signed the order, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on social media, "New York will not use that name."

In the village of Sodus Point, New York, along Lake Ontario's southern shore, Republican Mayor Pat Nolan expressed disappointment over the renaming, noting that "Ontario" originates from the region's indigenous history.

According to the Canadian government, the name Ontario is believed to originate from the Iroquois language, meaning "beautiful lake" or "sparkling water." Canada's province of Ontario is also named after this lake.

Sodus Point is a village of 1,000 residents in Wayne County, where Trump secured 61% of the vote in 2024.

"I hope that, instead of this decision becoming a further divisive factor among people, it can foster a broader discussion about the history of this vast body of water, about the indigenous people who named it, and about the generations of communities that have developed along its shores," Nolan wrote in an email.

A Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted from 28-30/8 found that nearly two-thirds of Americans oppose Trump's executive order to rename the lake, with 63% disagreeing, 14% supporting, and the remainder undecided. Notably, even within the Republican Party, opposition to renaming Lake Ontario was prevalent, with 43% against it compared to 33% in favor.

Long before this lake was renamed, Alex Morgia, a Democrat and mayor of Sackets Harbor, stated that his community had already faced difficulties due to worsening relations between the US and Canada.

Sackets Harbor, situated along Lake Ontario's eastern shore, is home to many Canadian residents. Its location, just two hours from Toronto and closer to major Canadian cities than New York City, means local businesses depend heavily on cross-border trade and visitors from Canada.

This village of 1,400 residents once served as a significant military outpost and naval command center during the War of 1812, a conflict between the US and British and Canadian forces.

Since 1971, the village has hosted the Can-Am festival to honor the shared heritage between Canada and the US. "This festival reminds everyone that being at odds with a neighbor is not a good thing," Morgia remarked.

By Hoang Lan (According to Politico, Reuters)