Pennsylvania Lawmaker Proposes Renaming Lake Erie ‘Lake Pennsylvania’ Following Trump’s Lake Ontario Order

A Pennsylvania state representative is seeking to rename Lake Erie “Lake Pennsylvania,” following President Donald Trump’s recent executive order renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America.” Republican Representative David Maloney argues the name change would reflect Pennsylvania’s economic and cultural connection to the lake, highlighting its importance for recreation and fishing. Maloney represents a district in southeastern Pennsylvania that does not border the lake and stated that Ohio, New York, and Canada already have ample Great Lakes shoreline. The proposal comes amid resistance to Trump’s renaming of Lake Ontario, which Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney rejected, citing the lake’s Wendat origins. Several Native American tribal leaders have also condemned the Lake Ontario renaming, arguing it violates treaties and disrespects Indigenous history, with similar objections anticipated for the Lake Erie proposal.

Lake Erie, the fourth largest of the Great Lakes by surface area, is sourced from an Iroquois word for the eastern cougar. Pennsylvania stocked approximately 500,000 yearling steelhead in the lake in 2025, representing about 40% of the total stocked across the lake. Approximately 12 million people live along Lake Erie’s shores, with 10.5 million in the U.S. and 1.9 million in Canada. While the Lake Ontario renaming applies only to U.S. federal government usage, both Apple Maps and Google Maps have updated the name. Canada has not yet responded to Maloney’s proposal, but previously refused to recognize Trump’s renaming of Lake Ontario.

Where they differ

• The Times of India emphasized Pennsylvania’s steelhead stocking numbers, citing research by Pennsylvania Sea Grant, while Breitbart did not.
• Breitbart directly quoted Maloney’s argument about other states having ample shoreline, while the Times of India paraphrased it.
• The Times of India noted that the renaming of Lake Ontario occurred during growing tensions between the United States and Canada over trade, a detail absent from the Breitbart report.

What is not yet known

• Whether tribal leaders will formally comment on the Lake Erie proposal.
• Whether Maloney’s resolution will gain traction in the Pennsylvania legislature or with President Trump.

Background

• Lake Erie is one of the five Great Lakes, with its name originating from an Iroquois word for the eastern cougar [background knowledge].
• In 2025, Pennsylvania stocked approximately 500,000 steelhead into Lake Erie, accounting for 40% of the total stocking across the lake [Fact Refinery, 2026-09-07].
• President Donald Trump previously pursued renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” a move rejected by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and condemned by Indigenous leaders citing treaty violations [Fact Refinery, 2026-09-07].
• The EU recently pledged $232 million in funding to Greenland, responding to perceived pressure from the United States regarding the territory [Fact Refinery, 2026-09-07].

Our reading

Our reading is that Representative Maloney’s proposal appears to be a direct response to President Trump’s recent renaming of Lake Ontario, adopting a similar tactic of asserting national claims over shared natural resources. The proposal, originating from a representative whose district does not border the lake, seems less about practical concerns and more about symbolic alignment with the President’s actions. The anticipated objections from Native American tribal leaders, mirroring those raised regarding Lake Ontario, suggest a pattern of disregarding Indigenous history and treaty rights.

What to watch

• Whether Maloney’s resolution is taken up for a vote in the Pennsylvania legislature [Fact Refinery, 2026-09-07].
• Whether President Trump publicly supports or rejects the proposal, potentially signaling his willingness to continue pursuing symbolic renamings [Fact Refinery, 2026-09-07].
• Formal statements from Native American tribal leaders regarding the Lake Erie proposal, to gauge the level of opposition and potential legal challenges [Fact Refinery, 2026-09-07].

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