House Democrats are preparing legislation aimed at overturning President Trump’s executive order renaming Lake Ontario as “Lake America,” as tensions between Washington and Ottawa continue to intensify amid an escalating trade dispute, Axios reports.
The Democratic push comes as lawmakers seek to limit the repercussions from the worsening economic confrontation between the Trump administration and the Canadian government.
Trade negotiations between the United States and Canada collapsed last week, triggering 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian imports. Ottawa has pledged to retaliate with tariffs of its own.
Rep. Tim Kennedy of New York, a Democratic co-chairman of the bipartisan Northern Border Caucus, told Axios in a text message that he is “working on a bill” in response to Trump’s order.
Kennedy is among several Democratic lawmakers who have sharply criticized the president’s decision to rename the lake. In a statement, he called the move further evidence that Trump is a “petty, vindictive, failed president.”
White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers fired back at Kennedy’s criticism, asking in a statement to Axios: “Does the Congressman not love America?”
Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan, who leads House Democrats’ messaging operation, is separately preparing legislation that would reverse Trump’s executive order.
Dingell, who has been an outspoken opponent of the president’s trade policies toward Canada, blasted the Lake America designation during a radio interview Thursday.
“I think it’s absolutely insane, and I deeply resent it,” he said.
Trump’s executive order directs the Interior Department to change the federal government’s Geographic Names Information System within 30 days to formally reflect the new Lake America designation.
“In recognition of this flourishing economic resource and its critical importance to our Nation’s economy and its people, I am directing that the Lake officially be renamed as Lake America,” the order said.
The action follows Trump’s earlier directive instructing the federal government to use the name “Gulf of America” for the Gulf of Mexico. Questions remain, however, about the extent of presidential authority to rename a body of water such as Lake Ontario, which is shared by the United States and Canada.
Canadian officials have already made clear that their government will not recognize Trump’s new name for the lake.
Democrats face a significant obstacle in their effort to undo the executive action. With Republicans controlling both the House and Senate, legislation reversing the Lake America designation is unlikely to receive a vote unless GOP lawmakers agree to bring it forward.
