Trump Approval Compared to Canada's Doug Ford Amid Lake Ontario Name Fight

0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Saturday unveiled a large billboard reading "Lake Ontario, Now and Always" along the Canadian shoreline, pushing back against President Donald Trump 's recent move to rename the lake as "Lake America."

The billboard comes amid a deepening rift between Washington and Ottawa following the collapse of trade negotiations earlier this month. The United States has imposed new tariffs on billions of dollars' worth of Canadian goods, while Canada has pledged retaliatory measures, with Ford emerging as one of the most vocal advocates for a tough response to the Trump administration.

The Trump administration imposed tariffs of up to 50 percent on billions of dollars’ worth of Canadian goods on August 22, targeting products including agricultural goods, manufactured products and consumer items , on top of existing U.S. duties affecting sectors such as steel, aluminum and automobiles.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Ottawa would respond "dollar for dollar," announcing retaliatory tariffs on a wide range of U.S. products that will go into effect on September 8.

The trade and naming dispute comes as Ford has seen a recent uptick in public support amid the tariff fight, while Trump has faced declining approval ratings in several recent national surveys. Both leaders remain underwater with voters, with disapproval ratings exceeding approval ratings in recent polling .

Ford, dressed in a red Team Canada soccer jersey, appeared in front of the bright blue billboard in a social media video announcing the display.

Speaking to the camera he said, “Let’s be serious, long before President Trump this lake was called Lake Ontario, and long after President Trump is gone, it will still be called Lake Ontario.”

“But just in case President Trump or anyone else forgets, we set up this sign to remind them, it’s Lake Ontario now and forever,” he added.

The 24-by-12 foot billboard is located in Grimsby, Ontario, about 30 miles from the American side of Niagara Falls in upstate New York.

Ford and Trump exchanged barbs earlier this week, in which Ford said Republican U.S. President Ronald Reagan would be “throwing up” over Trump’s tariff policies and “disgusted with President Trump,” in an interview with the Associated Press.

Trump responded by calling Ford’s remarks “bluster” and said he is Carney’s “flunky.” He described Ford as the “less charismatic, intelligent, and overall unimpressive brother” of the late Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.

Lake Ontario's name comes from the Huron Indigenous people’s word “oniatarí:io,” which means “lake of shining waters.” The Canadian province of Ontario, founded in 1867, took its name from the lake.

Trump's executive order directed the Interior Department and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to replace "Lake Ontario" with "Lake America" in the federal Geographic Names Information System within 30 days. Federal agencies must also use the new name on government maps, contracts, documents and other communications.

The order described the lake as an important part of American history and commerce, citing its role in shipping, energy production and the War of 1812. It also argued that the U.S. had contributed more than Canada to protecting the Great Lakes and keeping their shipping routes open.

The White House on Friday shared a message from U.S. Geological Survey Director Ned Mamula, saying the agency had officially designated the body of water as Lake America in its electronic documents.

“As of 4:30 pm today the U.S. Geological Survey has officially designated the former Lake Ontario to be renamed as Lake America in all official USGS electronic documents,” the message on X said.

While Ford's approval rating has improved over the past month, both he and Trump remain underwater with voters. Recent polling shows each facing significantly higher disapproval than approval, despite Ford's recent rebound.

Nationally, 35 percent of voters approve of Trump's job performance while 59 percent disapprove as of August 28, leaving him underwater with a net approval rating of -24, according to Civiqs' rolling online tracking poll of registered voters. The survey has garnered 126,586 responses since January 20, 2025, when Trump was inaugurated for a second term.

According to Nate Silver's Silver Bulletin polling average, Trump's net approval rating stood at -19.5 percentage points on Saturday, with 38.4 percent of Americans approving of his job performance and 58 percent disapproving.

An August 25 Economist/YouGov poll found 35 percent of Americans approved of the president's job performance, with a net approval rating of -26. Compared to a similar poll during the same point in his first term, his net approval rating was -9 and former Democratic President Joe Biden’s -12.

Ford’s approval rating climbed from 24 percent in July to 36 percent in August, according to a recent Liaison Strategies survey. Even so, 61 percent of respondents said they disapproved of his performance, leaving the Ontario premier with a net approval rating of -25 points

“His approval has improved sharply, from 24% in July to 36% now, but 61% still disapprove of the job he is doing as Premier,” David Valentin, principal at Liaison Strategies said in an August 26 press release.

An Abacus Data poll found Ford with a 34 percent favorability rating, with 45 percent viewing him unfavorably. About 21 percent were unsure. The poll of 1,000 Ontario voters was conducted between July 23-29 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

In June, Ford experienced his lowest approval rating, 21 percent, in an Angus Reid Institute survey. Seventy-two percent of recipients disapproved of Ford, with 6 percent unsure. The poll surveyed 4,076 Canadians between June 7-11 and has a margin of error of plus o...