Renaming Lake Erie: Pennsylvania Rep. David Maloney’s Request to President Trump

Pennsylvania Rep. David Maloney Seeks Lake Erie Rename

Pennsylvania state Representative David Maloney, a Republican, has proposed a change for Lake Erie’s name. He is calling on President Donald Trump to rename it to “Lake Pennsylvania.” Maloney is drafting a resolution urging Trump, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and Capitol Hill lawmakers to consider this alteration. He believes the name change should reflect the lake’s evolving character.

The Importance of Lake Pennsylvania

“This is Pennsylvania’s only Great Lake,” Maloney noted. He emphasized the lake’s significant role in the state’s economy, appealing to anglers, families, and tourists. According to him, Ohio possesses ample shoreline, New York has two Great Lakes, and Canada has four more. This underscores Pennsylvania’s sole claim.

Pennsylvania state Rep. David Maloney advocates for renaming Lake Erie to “Lake Pennsylvania.” – (Getty Images)

Maloney stated, “Pennsylvania has one. Let’s call it Lake Pennsylvania!” Lake Erie is the smallest, most shallow of the Great Lakes by volume, as reported by the Environmental Protection Agency. It serves about 12 million people within its watershed; 10.5 million reside in the U.S., and 1.9 million in Canada.

Recent Renaming Efforts by President Trump

This request follows an earlier decision by Trump to rename Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” a change not recognized by Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed disapproval, asserting that “now and always” it remains Lake Ontario.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney opposes Donald Trump’s Lake Ontario name change. – (Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images)

While Trump’s executive orders only affect federal entities, sidestepping recognition by Canada, states, and international bodies, tech firms such as Apple Maps and Google Maps have made adjustments for U.S. users.

Additional Renaming Proposals

Trump has previously suggested renaming New Mexico to “New America,” which led Democratic lawmakers of the state to request tech companies preserve the current name in their mapping applications. Trump’s ideas extend further, including renaming the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

On Trump’s first day back in office in January 2025, he issued an order to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.” Similar to other renaming efforts, this order only impacts the U.S. federal government, without affecting Mexico, other bodies, or private entities.

Canada opposes President Donald Trump’s Gulf of Mexico renaming. – (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Besides federal changes, Apple Maps and Google Maps adapted the Gulf of America designation for U.S. users, utilizing a region-based approach aligned with users’ locations. These adjustments are ongoing, reflecting Trump’s broader naming initiatives.