Joe Rogan Accuses Trump of Renaming Lake Ontario to Distract Americans From Iran 'War We Can't Win'

Joe Rogan suggested that Donald Trump's Lake Ontario renaming could be a distraction from the ongoing US war with Iran. On Tuesday's The Joe Rogan Experience, comedian Brian Simpson asked Rogan why Trump would rename the lake 'Lake America'. Rogan was blunt in his response: 'To distract you from the fact that we're in a war that we can't win in Iran.'

He added, 'It doesn't make any sense. Like, who cares? It's Lake Ontario. It's a good name. We've had that name forever.' His comments came days after Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to use 'Lake America' in official geographic references.

Trump Orders Federal Agencies to Use 'Lake America'

Trump signed the order on 27 August, directing the Interior Department, in coordination with the US Board on Geographic Names, to update the Geographic Names Information System and federal references to the lake. The order directs the Secretary of the Interior, in coordination with the US Board on Geographic Names, to take steps to rename the lake and update the Geographic Names Information System within 30 days.

The order applies to US federal usage and does not change the name used by Canadian authorities. The lake spans the border between New York and Ontario, Canada. The announcement came amid escalating trade tensions between Washington and Ottawa.

White House Defends Trump's 'Lake America' Decision

The White House has defended the renaming as part of Trump's broader effort to protect American industries and workers amid his dispute with Canada. Spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said that Canada had 'been a bad neighbour by ripping off our country for years.'

'President Trump promised voters that he would not allow our country to be taken advantage of anymore, which is why he is fighting so hard to protect American industries and workers,' Rogers said. 'Thanks to the President's bold leadership, we are putting America back on the map.'

Trump's executive order says the renaming recognises the lake's importance to the United States, citing its role in shipping, commerce, recreation, security, and the broader economy.

Rogan's Iran Views Put Lake America Debate in Context

Rogan's comments come amid his broader criticism of Trump's Iran policy. Although he endorsed Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign, he has since criticised the US president's decision to wage war against Iran and questioned the consequences of the conflict.

'We might've f***ed up by going to Iran,' Rogan said on a July episode of his podcast. He also said in July that 'most people don't want' the war, adding that supporters of Israel were an exception.

In April, Rogan speculated that the timing of the Iran war could have shifted public attention away from the Epstein files. 'Look, the Epstein files comes out — we go to war with Iran,' he said. 'It's a good way to get people to stop talking about certain things.'

Recent polling also shows widespread disapproval of Trump's handling of the conflict. In a University of Massachusetts Amherst poll conducted August 21–26, 68% disapproved of Trump's handling of the Iran war, while 54% disapproved of US military actions in Iran. The survey included 1,000 Americans and had a 3.5-point margin of error.

Americans Reject Trump's 'Lake America' Rename in New Polls

The Lake America decision has also received little public support. An Economist/YouGov poll conducted August 28–31 found that 68% of Americans strongly or somewhat disapproved of renaming Lake Ontario, compared with 17% who approved. A separate Reuters/Ipsos poll showed a similar divide, with 63% opposing the change and 14% supporting it.

The naming dispute is also playing out on digital maps, with Google and Apple displaying 'Lake America' to US users, 'Lake Ontario' to Canadian users, and both names elsewhere.