The president’s order renaming Lake Ontario could have been an easy sell along its New York shore, an area where he has polled well. Instead, many red-leaning residents have come out against it.

President Trump's executive order renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America" has met with unexpected resistance in New York's Oswego County, a staunch Republican stronghold where Trump won 62% of the vote in the 2024 election. Local officials and residents, many of whom are Trump supporters, have expressed frustration with the name change, citing its historical importance and the practical difficulties it would create. Oswego Mayor Robert Corradino, a Republican, stated that the city's government does not support the executive order, emphasizing that altering the name would cause confusion without providing any practical benefits to residents, visitors, or regional partners. He also noted that the city has no intention of changing signage or tourism literature.

Opposition extends beyond city officials. The Oswego County Legislature, led by Republicans, moved forward with a resolution rejecting the "Lake America" change. This resolution highlighted the lake's "longstanding historical and geographic significance" and the "significant cost to taxpayers and businesses" associated with renaming it. Legislator Patti Holst, a Republican, specifically mentioned the responsibility to keep expenses at bay for the county and its businesses. The resolution, while respecting federal naming authority, stated the county's intent to continue using the traditional name due to concerns about the cost of updating business names and marketing materials.

The rebranding effort stems from a breakdown in trade negotiations with Canada, which led Trump to impose 50% tariffs on approximately $20 billion worth of Canadian exports. He formally directed the Interior Department to update the lake's name on August 25 via Truth Social, later issuing an executive order. The order claimed the change recognized the lake as a "flourishing economic resource." However, a Reuters/Ipsos poll of 1,023 adults from August 28-30 found 63% disapproval of renaming the lake, with 43% of Republicans disapproving. Even navigation apps are divided, with Google and Apple adopting "Lake America" for U.S. users, while MapQuest, which refused the change, saw its popularity soar to the top of the U.S. App Store. The renaming has also raised concerns about its impact on Canadian tourism and local industries, such as the Novelis Aluminum manufacturing plant, which relies on raw materials from Canada.