Pennsylvania State Representative David Maloney (R) has formally requested that President Trump rename Lake Erie to "Lake Pennsylvania," a move that echoes the president's earlier decision to rename Lake Ontario.
In a statement released this week, Maloney argued that Pennsylvania's connection to Lake Erie is unique and deserving of recognition. "This is Pennsylvania's only Great Lake. Its modern economy and identity are increasingly tied to the boaters, anglers, families and tourists who come to enjoy it," he said. "Ohio has plenty of shoreline. New York already has two Great Lakes. Canada has four others. Pennsylvania has one. Let's call it Lake Pennsylvania."
The request comes as President Trump has already signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America," a decision made amid escalating trade tensions with Canada. Maloney's proposal specifically calls on Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to enforce the name change.
Lake Erie, the smallest of the Great Lakes by volume and the shallowest, supports a watershed of 12 million people, with 10.5 million in the United States and 1.9 million in Canada, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The timing of Maloney's request is notable, as Canadian retaliatory tariffs took effect Tuesday, directly impacting Pennsylvania's economy. Canada is Pennsylvania's largest export market, with the state exporting $13.9 billion in goods to Canada in 2025, accounting for 27 percent of its total exports, according to the U.S. Trade Representative's Office.
The tariffs, ranging from 15 to 50 percent on about 6 percent of U.S. exports to Canada, are expected to hit Pennsylvania particularly hard. This economic backdrop adds a layer of complexity to the renaming proposal, which some may view as a symbolic gesture during a trade war.
President Trump has also floated renaming New Mexico to "New America," a suggestion that drew sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers in that state. The pattern of renaming geographic features has become a hallmark of the administration's nationalist rhetoric, though critics argue it distracts from substantive policy issues.
Maloney's proposal has yet to receive a public response from the White House, but it aligns with the president's penchant for symbolic acts. Whether the Department of Interior will act on the request remains unclear, but the move has already generated attention in political circles.
As the trade war with Canada continues to escalate, the renaming of Lake Erie could serve as another flashpoint in the strained relationship between the two nations. For now, Pennsylvania's sole Great Lake remains officially named Erie, but that could change if the president decides to act on Maloney's request.
