Pennsylvania Republican Urges Donald Trump to Rebrand Lake Erie as 'Lake Pennsylvania'

A state lawmaker in Pennsylvania is urging President Donald Trump to rename Lake Erie to "Lake Pennsylvania," seeking to advance a geographic rebranding effort following a series of similar federal name changes enacted by the administration.

State Representative David Maloney, a Republican, has announced that he is drafting a formal resolution requesting action from the White House, the Department of the Interior, and federal legislators. The measure formally calls upon President Trump, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and members of Congress on Capitol Hill to initiate the official process to alter the name of the historic body of water.

In outlining the rationale behind his initiative, Maloney asserted that the proposed redesignation is necessary to properly showcase the Commonwealth’s modern heritage and regional identity. He emphasized that the lake serves as an essential economic driver and recreational hub for local communities, drawing visitors from across the state and beyond.

Maloney argued that the lake's modern identity is deeply intertwined with the families, boaters, tourists, and anglers who frequent its waters. To justify the change, he highlighted that surrounding jurisdictions have access to multiple waterways, pointing out that Canada borders four other Great Lakes, New York borders two, and Ohio possesses an expansive shoreline. Because Lake Erie stands as Pennsylvania's sole Great Lake, Maloney contended it should carry the state's name.

Environmental data highlights the unique status of the waterway within the broader Great Lakes system. Figures from the Environmental Protection Agency indicate that Lake Erie is both the shallowest and the smallest of the Great Lakes when measured by water volume. The agency estimates that approximately 12 million people reside within its surrounding watershed, including roughly 10.5 million residents in the United States and 1.9 million in Canada.

Maloney’s legislative push follows a precedent set by President Trump, who previously signed an executive order directing the federal government to rename Lake Ontario to "Lake America." That presidential directive sought to rebrand the binational body of water shared along the northern border between the United States and Canada.

The redesignation of Lake Ontario generated swift international pushback, with Canadian officials firmly refusing to adopt the American terminology. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded with a public statement emphasizing that while the United States might alter its foreign policies, trading relationships, and hydronyms, Canada remains steadfast in calling the waterway Lake Ontario.

The executive action also drew friction within the United States. State leaders, including New York Governor Kathy Hochul, voiced blunt opposition and rejected the federal administration's attempt to impose the "Lake America" label on the shared northern waterway.

Despite international and state resistance, presidential executive orders regarding geographic titles operate under strict legal limits. Such directives apply exclusively to the administrative functions of the U.S. federal government, lacking the authority to bind foreign countries, international governing bodies, state administrations, or private commercial enterprises.

Nevertheless, major technology corporations quickly adapted their platforms to comply with the federal update. Both Google Maps and Apple Maps altered the labeling of Lake Ontario to "Lake America" specifically for users accessing the navigation platforms within the United States.

This approach mirrored administrative moves made during the opening days of the president's term. On his first day back in office in January 2025, Trump signed an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America." While that mandate did not bind Mexican authorities or international organizations, digital map providers implemented region-based software updates to display the new designation to domestic users.

The administration's focus on geographic renaming has extended beyond maritime borders and lakes. Trump previously floated a proposal to change the name of New Mexico to "New America," a suggestion that prompted Democratic lawmakers representing the state to publicly petition Apple and Google to maintain New Mexico's established name on their digital mapping tools.

The president has additionally entertained the prospect of overhauling other major oceanic titles, publicly raising the concept of renaming both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans following his freshwater rebranding initiatives.

The sweeping federal renaming proposals have also permeated popular culture and national commentary. The Lake Ontario executive order and the subsequent compliance by private navigation companies notably drew satire from the creators of the television series South Park, who released a mock statement lampooning the corporate response to the presidential order.

As Maloney prepares to advance his resolution regarding Lake Erie through the state legislature, the proposal marks the latest attempt to align state waterways with the expanding federal push to rebrand prominent North American landmarks.