Trump's 'Lake America' Merchandise Sparks Major Controversy

Just a week after signing an executive order renaming Lake Ontario as "Lake America" for use by the U.S. government, President Donald Trump is already selling merchandise bearing the new name through his official online store.

The Trump Store is offering a "Lake America Hat" for $55, featuring the slogan on a red cap made in the United States.

The merchandise push came after Trump formalized the controversial name change as part of an escalating dispute with Canada. The White House announced the move on August 27, with Trump arguing that the United States plays the dominant role in protecting and maintaining the Great Lakes system.

According to the Trump Store website, the hat is described as a "presidential favorite" and carries the message that "Lake America shares a vision for the unlimited potential of what is on the horizon." The product page says the cap is made in America and includes a U.S. flag and "45/47" embroidery, referencing Trump's two nonconsecutive presidential terms.

The hat, which also comes in navy blue with red writing, is listed for $55 before shipping and taxes. The online store notes that high demand may result in delays of up to 10 to 15 business days.

The merchandise has also been promoted by members of the Trump family. Eric Trump appeared modeling the hat in a recent Instagram post, helping publicize the new product to supporters.

Newsweek reached out to the Trump Group via email for comment.

On the other side of the lake, Canadian company Jackpine Dynamic Branding, founded by Liam Mooney, has seen an uptick in sales of its own caps that read “Canada is not for sale."

The hats first became a sensation after Ontario Premier Doug Ford wore one in 2025, but since Trump’s order to rename Lake Ontario, sales have again skyrocketed. The company is now also selling its own "Lake Ontario" caps, which feature the "Canada is not for sale" slogan on the back.

Mooney told Newsweek: "This presidency has changed political communications. Now apparel and hats are a much bigger part of the equation than they used to be. I’m surprised it took him this long to get one up. We knew he was going to change the name of the lake, so we beat him to it."

He added that while many will write off Trump's new hats, he believes something more sinister may be at play. "I know a lot of folks will be swift to write this off as grifting or as late-stage capitalism, but materials promoting political candidates are a tale as old as time. People will deride this as a meme or equate it to Trump signing and selling Bibles when, in fact, this is extremely serious, with national and international implications."

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Trump signed Executive Order 14422 on August 27, directing federal agencies to begin using "Lake America" in place of Lake Ontario in official government records and maps. The order instructed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to implement the change within 30 days.

In the executive order, Trump argued that the United States has made substantial investments in maintaining the Great Lakes and that Lake Ontario has played a significant role in American commerce, defense and transportation.

Canada is not required to recognize the new name, and Canadian officials have rejected the move, saying the lake will continue to be known as Lake Ontario.

The president compared the move to his earlier decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America." During the signing ceremony, Trump said the change was effective immediately for federal purposes.

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The move has been criticized by Canadian officials and some local leaders around the Great Lakes.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the lake's name predates both Canada and the United States and noted its Indigenous origins. Ontario Premier Doug Ford also dismissed the change, saying the body of water would remain Lake Ontario "now and forever."

In New York, Rochester City Council has likewise indicated it will continue referring to the lake by its longstanding name.

While Trump's executive order changes how the federal government refers to the lake, it does not require Canada or other countries to adopt the new name.

Attention has also turned to major digital maps. Google Maps, Apple Maps and Waze updated their platforms to reflect "Lake America" for U.S. users following the executive order, while MapQuest continued to display "Lake Ontario," a move that helped propel the app up download charts amid the controversy.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Rebecca Flood and Emma Lee-Sang