The clash between Donald Trump and Canada has also moved to the name of one of North America's largest lakes. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has hit back at the US president by placing a giant sign on the Canadian shore with the message: "Lake Ontario. Now and Always."
Ford's reaction comes after Donald Trump signed an executive order to change the name of the lake, which lies between the United States and Canada, proposing that it be called "Lake America." The US president has also published several videos created with artificial intelligence on social media, promoting the new name.
"Long before President Trump, this lake was called Lake Ontario. Long after President Trump is gone, it will still be called Lake Ontario," Ford declared.
The new clash comes at a time when relations between Washington and Ottawa have been strained significantly over trade policy. Talks between the two countries have failed, while the US has imposed new 50% tariffs on about $20 billion of Canadian goods. Canada has warned of "dollar-for-dollar" counter-tariffs that are expected to take effect next month.
Trump said the name change order would take effect immediately upon signing. However, the US president's decision does not oblige Canadian authorities to use the new name. While the US president has broad authority over how the US federal government refers to landmarks and geographical locations, other countries are not required to recognize the changes.
Canadian authorities have openly opposed Trump's initiative, while Doug Ford has turned the issue into a public clash between the two countries.
On Saturday, Trump released several more videos created with artificial intelligence. In one of them, the US president is shown kicking a sign that says "Lake Ontario" and replacing it with another that says: "Welcome to Lake America."
Another video, in a more satirical tone, shows a flock of armed Canada geese, equipped with the US president's signature hair, patrolling the lakeshore.
Doug Ford has linked Trump's decision to recent tensions between the two countries, claiming that the US president "didn't like Ontario and Canada defending themselves."
The clash over the name of the lake has thus become another chapter in the war of words between Trump and Canada, at a time when trade disputes are increasing tensions between the two North American allies.
