Majority of Americans oppose Trump’s Canada tariffs and Lake Ontario rename, poll finds

New Reuters/Ipsos polling reveals deep public pushback against the White House's 50% import duties and the executive order renaming the historic waterway

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Published September 01, 2026
Majority of Americans oppose Trump’s Canada tariffs and Lake Ontario rename, poll finds

A new poll/ survey reveals that a solid majority of Americans disapprove of President Donald Trump's aggressive actions against Canada, including the implementation of 50% tariffs and an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America".

Under a 3-day poll conducted by Reuters/Ipsos poll which concluded on Sunday, showed Americans are wary of the feud with Canada for decades a top U.S. trading partner—which has escalated since trade talks between the two countries collapsed and Trump last ⁠week ordered the hike in tariffs on Canadian goods.

57% of respondents oppose the new 50% duties on Canadian imports, while only 20% support the economic penalties. Roughly 21% remain undecided or unsure.

Public pushback is even sharper regarding the 400-year-old body of water, with 63% of Americans opposed to renaming Lake Ontario "Lake America" and just 14% in favor.

The polling highlights deep public apprehension over the abrupt collapse of trade negotiations with Washington's northern neighbor.

The escalating trade feud has prompted Ottawa to prepare retaliatory tariffs even as U.S. citizens signal a preference for stable diplomatic and economic ties with Canada.

As reported, just 14% of Americans in the Reuters/Ipsos poll said they supported changing the name of Lake Ontario, which has gone by that name for more than 400 years.

Sixty-three percent of poll ⁠respondents opposed the name change and the rest were unsure or didn't answer the question.

Hafsa Naeem Baig
Hafsa Naeem is an entertainment reporter specialising in K-dramas, films, and celebrity-driven stories. She explores global content trends and audience engagement, delivering accessible coverage that captures the emotional and cultural impact of entertainment across diverse viewership.
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