Why Is Trump Renaming Places? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

There is a large lake between New York State in the USA and the Canadian Province of Ontario. Do you know what it is called?

Lake Ontario is the name the lake has been known by for centuries. But if you look at an official map produced by the United States government, you may now see a different name: Lake America.

In August 2026, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the US government to use the name “Lake America” instead of “Lake Ontario.” This isn't the first geographical name Trump has changed. Earlier in his presidency, Trump ordered the US government to use “Gulf of America” instead of the traditional name “Gulf of Mexico” for the large body of water between the United States and Mexico.

Why does a president care so much about what we call a lake or a gulf?

In this episode, I want to explore the power of names. Why do governments rename places? Who has the authority to decide what a place should be called? And what happens when two countries use completely different names for the same place?

Let’s talk about this, while improving your English listening comprehension and learning some new vocabulary!

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/10/26/411-why-is-trump-renaming-places-english-vocabulary-lesson/

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