Just a week after signing an executive order renaming Lake Ontario as "Lake America" for use by the U.S. government, President Donald Trump is already selling merchandise bearing the new name through his official online store. The Trump Store is offering a "Lake America Hat" for $55, featuring the slogan on a red cap made in the United States. The merchandise push came after Trump formalized the controversial name change as part of an escalating dispute with Canada.
The White House announced the move on August 27, with Trump arguing that the United States plays the dominant role in protecting and maintaining the Great Lakes system. According to the Trump Store website, the hat is described as a "presidential favorite" and carries the message that "Lake America shares a vision for the unlimited potential of what is on the horizon." The product page says the cap is made in America and includes a U.S. flag and "45/47" embroidery, referencing Trump's two nonconsecutive presidential terms. The hat, which also comes in navy blue with red writing, is listed for $55 before shipping and taxes.
The online store notes that high demand may result in delays of up to 10 to 15 business days. The merchandise has also been promoted by members of the Trump family. Eric Trump appeared modeling the hat in a recent Instagram post, helping publicize the new product to supporters.
Newsweek reached out to the Trump Group via email for comment. On the other side of the lake, Canadian company Jackpine Dynamic Branding, founded by Liam Mooney, has seen an uptick in sales of its own caps that read “Canada is not for sale." The hats first became a sensation after Ontario Premier Doug Ford wore one in 2025, but since Trump’s order to rename Lake Ontario, sales have again skyrocketed. The company is now also selling its own "Lake Ontario" caps, which feature the "Canada is not for sale" slogan on the back.
Mooney told Newsweek: "This presidency has changed political communications. Now apparel and hats are a much bigger part of the equation than they used to be. I’m surprised it took him this long to get one up.
We knew he was going to change the name of the lake, so we beat him to it." He added that while many will write off Trump's new hats, he believes something more sinister may be at play. "I know a lot of folks will be swift to write this off as grifting or as late-stage capitalism, but materials promoting political candidates are a tale as old as time. People will deride this as a meme or equate it to Trump signing and selling Bibles when, in fact, this is extremely serious, with national and international implications." Trump signed Executive Order 14422 on August 27, directing federal agencies to begin using "Lake America" in place of Lake Ontario in official government records and maps.
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