Trump mocked as Canadian rockers Blue Rodeo defy his ‘Lake America’ rebrand — ask crowd to ‘sing with full authority’
Iconic Canadian rock band Blue Rodeo, joined by around 16,000 fans, delivered a clear message of defiance against President Donald Trump on Saturday, transforming their waterfront concert into a collective rejection of his attempt to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America.”
Performing at Toronto’s RBC Amphitheater on the Lake Ontario shoreline, the band used their 1993 hit “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet” to lead the audience in a singalong celebrating the historic waterway.
A waterfront singalong in defiance of Trump
Before performing the fan-favorite track, which features the line, “Watching the snow fall on this cold December night, and out in the middle of Lake Ontario, the same snow is falling on the deep silent water,” lead vocalist Greg Keelor addressed the crowd on his 72nd birthday.
“At the end of this song, there’s a mention of a lake. It’s a lake right behind us right there. I would just like you to sing tonight with full authority and ownership. And we’ll sing this one for the shining waters that have been there long before any of us were ever here,” Keelor said.
As the lyric approached, the crowd joined in, shouting “Lake Ontario” in unison. Video screens behind the band displayed maps labeled “Lake Ontario,” highlighting the contrast with recent updates on U.S. tech platforms.
After the performance, Keelor commended the audience: “That was some good singing, folks. You’re good Canadians. God bless you. We love you for it.”
Bandmate Jim Cuddy added: “That was chilling, folks. We are who we are, right? F*** ‘em.”
Blue Rodeo shared fan-recorded videos of the singalong on Instagram, with social media users praising the moment as “perfection” and a unified stand for Canada.
Canadian leaders unite behind ‘Lake Ontario’ identity
The musical response follows widespread condemnation from Canadian political leaders.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiled a massive billboard on the Canadian shore reading “Lake Ontario. Now and Always,” stating: “Long before President Trump, this lake was called Lake Ontario, and long after President Trump is gone, it will still be called Lake Ontario.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a formal statement on X, writing: “This lake is called Lake Ontario-today and forever,” emphasizing that the indigenous name “dates well before the Canadian Confederation and the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America.”
Trump ramps up attacks on Canadian trade and auto sector
The concert coincided with a surge in social media posts from Trump, who shared an AI-generated video of himself dancing to “Y.M.C.A.” while replacing a “Welcome to Lake Ontario” sign with “Welcome to Lake America.”
On Sunday, Trump criticized Canadian manufacturing and the automotive sector, threatening to raise vehicle tariffs from 25 percent to 50 percent starting January 1.
“I don’t want Canadian cars, I don’t want Canadian parts, I don’t want Canadian anything. They’ve been ripping us off for decades, and it’s going to stop. I deal with the Leadership of many Countries, but I find Canada to be the worst. They are entitled no longer!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump further demanded that Canadian firms relocate south to avoid punitive trade measures, asserting: “Let all Canadian Companies that are doing business with America move to the United States, immediately. When you move back, there are no TARIFFS!”