Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 9
AP Keeps Lake Ontario Name, Defying Trump's Renaming Order 1 Month After Decree
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 9

AP Keeps Lake Ontario Name, Defying Trump's Renaming Order 1 Month After Decree

3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 9

Summary

  • AP told reporters to keep using “Lake Ontario,” saying Trump’s order last month changes only U.S. government usage, not the name recognized by Canada and other countries.
  • Patrick Maks said the wire service will mention “Lake America” when relevant but must use place names that are broadly recognizable to its global audience.
  • The decision echoes AP’s stance last year on “Gulf of Mexico,” after Trump ordered it renamed the “Gulf of America.”
  • That earlier dispute led the White House to bar AP reporters from events and triggered a prolonged First Amendment court fight, underscoring the risk of another clash.

Insights

Will a major news agency's refusal to adopt the new lake name trigger another unprecedented clash over geographic reality?
How can two nations effectively manage a vital shared resource when they legally cannot even agree on its name?
When digital maps divide a shared international waterway, which name will global shipping and trade ultimately adopt?