LOS ANGELES, California, September 5, 2026 — A majority of Americans oppose President Trump’s escalating trade fight with Canada, according to public opinion data analyzed by the Annenberg Public Policy Center. Only 20 percent favored his most recent set of tariffs on Canadian products, compared to 57 percent who were opposed. Fully 63 percent took issue with his order declaring that Lake Ontario henceforth be called “Lake America.”
Two Moves, One Verdict
The three-day survey of 1,023 U.S. adults has a margin of error of four points. Just 14 percent of respondents backed the name change for the lake. Another independent poll had 68 percent against, with only 15 in favor.
The order to rename, which only applies to U.S. federal use of the name, was signed by Trump last Thursday. That does not prevent Canada or international bodies managed under the United Nations from calling the lake something else. He had renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the ‘Gulf of America’ before.
Roughly one in five people who took the poll said they had not heard of the tariff policy at all. The share indicates that the trade dispute hasn’t yet penetrated with light news consumers. With Canada due to impose retaliatory tariffs this month, awareness may increase.
Even Republicans Are Divided
Barely one in three Republicans supported the Lake Ontario order, with 43 percent opposed. Just 6 percent of Democrats endorsed the move, nearly identical to support among GOP leaders. White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers called the broader trade fight justified in a statement.
Rogers blasted Canada for its policy history, saying the neighbor has been difficult in trade relations. Trump echoed similar sentiments on social media over the weekend. He wrote that—while Canada seeks to be “treated like a state”—it is not one.
This is far from the first time Trump has vaguely suggested making Canada the 51st U.S. state. It is modeled the same as his Gulf of Mexico order for Lake Ontario. Here, both changes are based on unilateral executive actions and remain mostly symbolic.
A Trade War With Escalating Risks
Back in late July, the U.S. slapped Canada with a 50 percent tariff on numerous products, impacting bilateral terms outlined by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Canada retaliated with planned tariffs of 50 percent on U.S. goods. The countermeasures from Canada are to be implemented Sept. 8.
Almost half of poll respondents, 46 percent, said the U.S. was more to blame for the dispute. Some 68 percent said the U.S. should be open to compromise, rather than seek maximum leverage in negotiations. Analysts noted that only a quarter preferred dealing firmly with Ottawa.
Negotiations between Washington and Ottawa broke down at the end of August after months of sporadic discussions. Trump has also threatened to double tariffs on Canadian cars, parts, and steel to 50 percent. The second increase is slated for Jan. 1.
Local Voices Weigh In
The Republican mayor of Oswego, New York, Robert Corradino, stated he is against the renaming of a lake near the city, where local administration details are published by the City of Oswego. He explained that it does not make much sense in practice to update all the local signage. His town is located on the very shores of Lake Ontario.
The clash comes at a time when Trump’s approval rating languishes at low levels. From the same pollsters, just 33 percent approve of his job performance overall. Cost of living remains the biggest issue shaping voting intentions.
Higher gasoline prices related to global conflicts are already putting additional strain on household budgets. Seventy-one percent of respondents disapproved of Trump’s management of living costs. On midterm campaigning, that issue—more than trade policy alone—is expected to loom large.
