President Trump escalated a political dispute with Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan over his decision to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America” for federal purposes, responding to the Democratic congresswoman with criticism and a new nickname.
The disagreement began after President Trump signed Executive Order 14422 on August 27, directing the Interior Department and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to change the federal designation of Lake Ontario to “Lake America.” The order requires federal maps, documents and communications to use the new name. It does not require Canada, state governments or private organizations to adopt it.
The move came amid heightened tensions between Washington and Ottawa over trade. Reuters reported that the renaming followed the collapse of U.S.-Canada trade negotiations and another round of tariffs and retaliatory measures.
Dingell, whose Michigan district is closely tied to the Great Lakes region, opposed the change and joined Reps. Tim Kennedy of New York and Joe Morelle of New York in introducing the “Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act.”
According to Dingell’s congressional office, the bill would prohibit the federal government from renaming any of the five Great Lakes, nullify Trump’s executive order, and prevent federal funds from being used to implement a similar renaming effort. Dingell described the Great Lakes as a shared resource protected for generations by Americans and Canadians.
Dingell also argued that the naming controversy was distracting from economic concerns associated with trade policy.
President Trump responded Saturday in a Truth Social post that quickly turned personal.
“Upon his death, I gave Congressman John Dingell, the Royal Sendoff, MAXED OUT! His wife, Debbie Dingbat, called me and thanked me profusely, while crying uncontrollably. She couldn’t believe I would do such a nice thing,” President Trump wrote.
He continued by complaining that Dingell had repeatedly criticized him despite what he characterized as his respectful treatment of her late husband.
“Since then, she says nothing but bad about your favorite President, ME! Every time I see that Third Rate Loser ripping me, I’m amazed, because I’m a loyal person, I don’t do things like that but, that’s OK — It’s Politics. However, it shouldn’t be that way!” President Trump wrote.
The reference was to former Rep. John Dingell, Debbie Dingell’s husband, who died in February 2019 after serving more than 59 years in the House of Representatives. At the time of his retirement, he was the longest-serving member of Congress in American history.
The dispute also highlights an unusual distinction between federal naming policy and everyday geographic usage.
President Trump’s order changed how the federal government refers to the lake, but it did not change Canada’s designation. Apple and Google subsequently adopted “Lake America” for U.S. map users, while Canadian users continued seeing “Lake Ontario.”
Congress could also intervene. Dingell’s legislation, if enacted, would override the executive order and restore Lake Ontario as the federal designation.
For now, the disagreement has moved well beyond cartography. What began as a debate over the name of a Great Lake has become another direct confrontation between President Trump and a Democratic member of Congress, complete with legislation, personal criticism and one of Trump’s trademark political nicknames.
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