Bryan Adams hits back at 'Lake America' order with new song 'Lake Ontario'

Canadian singer Bryan Adams has released a protest song aimed at the US government's decision to refer to Lake Ontario as "Lake America".

"Lake Ontario" came out on October 28 and will appear as a bonus track on Adams's new studio album, How's It Goin', which is due on November 6.

The order

In an order signed on August 27, the Trump administration directed US federal agencies to use the name "Lake America" in place of Lake Ontario in official geographic references. The order applies only to US government usage. Lake Ontario, the smallest of the five Great Lakes, forms part of the border between the United States and Canada, and Canada continues to use its existing name.

The move followed earlier renamings by the administration, including the Gulf of Mexico, which federal agencies now call the Gulf of America.

The song

Adams argues that the name long predates any government decree. "The 'lake of shining waters' is what the Iroquois called her; It's a First Nations name, not an executive order," he sings, referring to the Indigenous origins of the name.

The song also suggests the renaming was staged to divert attention while pressure grew over the release of files related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, a view Adams has repeated in interviews.

"This is a song for all the sane people on both shores who know that the current madness will pass, and that Lake Ontario will always be Lake Ontario," Adams said in a statement.

Canadian reaction

Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded that the lake will always be Lake Ontario to Canadians.

The song taps into a wider mood in Canada, where relations with the United States have been strained by trade disputes and by President Trump's past remarks about making Canada the "51st state". Canadian musicians, athletes and businesses have increasingly used their platforms to express national pride.

A Canada-themed album

Adams, one of Canada's best-selling musicians, is known for hits including "Summer of '69" and "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You". His upcoming album is described as Canada-focused. "Lake Ontario" is likely to be one of its most talked-about tracks, on both sides of the border.