The graphic above was based on data from the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN), White House executive orders, and U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary’s Orders to chart notable geographic renamings in the U.S. from 1963 to 2026.
While renaming two large bodies of water is certainly an unusually flamboyant example of changing names of geographical locales for political or other reasons, Trump’s contributions to the map certainly have plenty of company. The hysteria attached to the most recent “horror,” the renaming of Lake Ontario (Who. Cares.) is, in this context, wildly excessive.
It is also, as an astute conservative contrarian on my Facebook feed pointed out, hypocritical. The same people foaming at the mouth over the loss of “Ontario” to name a lake shared by the U.S. and Canada were all-in as schools, streets, plazas, parks, buildings and more had their names changed by wokesters when The Great Stupid spread its dark wings over the land. They applauded attempts to erase from cultural memory such crucial figures as Founders Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Mason, Presidents George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Woodrow Wilson, William McKinley and John Tyler, and important historical figures like Robert E. Lee and John C. Calhoun….and I’m not even talking about all the toppled statues.
As an aside, I saw for the first time, the brilliantly gold-refinished hyper-muscular horses and riders that grace D.C.’s Memorial Bridge as I crossed crossed from from the Old Dominion to the Lincoln Memorial. They look great, in stark contrast to their tarnished, ruined appearance for, oh, as long as I’ve lived in the area. But I bet the Trump deranged still hate the upgrade, because he did it. For example, a Trump-hater posted on X a representation of how Trump’s arch would block the view of the Lee Mansion in Arlington National Cemetery. Huh. So you wanted to pull down every statue of the General across the country, but his plantation’s mansion is sacred!
Fascinating.
Asshole.
Ethics Alarms 
Speaking of toppled statues, Stonewall Jackson’s finally came down on the Virginia capitol grounds. Good thing I made sure to see it in 2024.
I’m waiting for Canada to change the name of Lake Huron to Lake Canada.
Ooo! Ooo! That would trigger the “stolen land” mob!
Why not change it to Lake Potawatomi?
As a Canadian who has had to watch his country’s economy, its history and culture get gelded by Trudeau and Carney, I think every level of troll aimed at Canada by Trump is a special gift to those sane enough to see the Liberals for the corrupt, morally bankrupt tools they are. If it makes the Liberal voters who have kept this kleptocracy in power for the last decade seethe and shriek, then so much the better. Why should they sleep soundly while rest of us fret?
The hysteria attached to the most recent “horror,” the renaming of Lake Ontario (Who. Cares.) is, in this context, wildly excessive.
Isn’t this just the apathy defense rationalization?
But I largely agree with your assessment. It just doesn’t matter.
Yes. But like many of the rationalizations, there are times when it’s a valid justification.
Now I’m eagerly awaiting the executive order to rename Lake Superior to “Lake Absolutely Incredible, The Greatest In The Entire World”.
–Dwayne
Bravo.
It’s abundantly clear to those who spend time at/on Gitche Gumee, (we have property ~12 miles/19.3 kms south of the cleanest lake in the good ol’ U.S. of A.), that it richly deserves all the superlatives it attracts…and then some!
PWS
Do Canadians realize that they live in North America?
As do Mexicans (even the ones that haven’t moved to the U.S.). By all logic, neither should object to the renaming of the gulf or the lake.