Canada has a bully and he just happens to be the leader of the United States of America.
In the last few weeks, President Donald Trump has signed an Executive Order to rename Lake Ontario—a nearly 400-year-old name with Indigenous roots—Lake America. This came on the heels of the complete collapse of trade negotiations between the two countries, as talks fell apart amid the Trump administration’s escalating tariff demands and Prime Minister Mark Carney’s refusal to agree to terms that would threaten Canada’s sovereignty.
It’s difficult to disengage from the constant barrage of threats and tantrums from Trump. As a Canadian, my newsfeed is filled with his latest antics. Canadians waffle between anger, disdain, exasperation, and fear.
The Canada Strong movement, which began as a Liberal Party of Canada campaign, has taken on a life of its own over the last year, amid the U.S.-Canada trade war and escalating tensions between the two countries. Over the past year, many Canadians have been using their purchasing power to send a message to the United States. This has included consuming more Canadian-made media, buying Canadian food products, and choosing Canadian-owned companies when making purchases.
Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly returned to theatrical social media posts and provocative statements about Canada. On Truth Social and in public remarks, he has mocked and admonished Prime Minister Mark Carney, calling Canadian leadership “nasty.”
More recently, he has celebrated his supposed “triumph” in renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America,” re-posting AI-generated videos to promote the change. The name has since appeared on Google Maps and Apple Maps for users in the United States, while it remains Lake Ontario in Canada.
One question Canadians have been asking throughout the past year—and particularly as tensions have escalated—is what Americans make of the trade war with Canada.
Compare the Canadian and American media landscapes, and you’ll find a striking difference in coverage. In Canada, the deterioration of our relationship with our closest neighbor and, historically, our closest ally has been a persistent and intensely covered story. In the United States, coverage of the conflict often competes with a broader and more crowded news agenda.
As a Canadian, here is what I’d like Americans to know: Many of us Canadians are not angry at the people of the United States, but we are fed up with the Trump Administration. If you are in the U.S. and you’re wondering how you can help and show solidarity to your Canadian neighbors, here’s what I would suggest:
- Vote in the midterms: This is the biggest way that you can use your voice and make an impact, not only within your own country, but globally. If you’re unhappy with the current Trump Administration, make it known through your vote.
- Consume Canadian-made media: TV Shows like Crave’s Heated Rivalry have become a massive international sensation. Consider consuming more proudly Canadian media, whether it’s buying books by Canadian authors, watching shows created and produced by Canadians, and catching up on reporting by Canadian journalists. Some great places to start: CBC News, The Walrus, 49th Shelf, and the National Film Board of Canada.
- Come visit us: Canada has a glorious, diverse landscape, and Canadians are known for being welcoming and friendly. Go whale watching in British Columbia or Nova Scotia. Dig your toes in Prince Edward Island’s famous red sand beaches. Catch live theatre and comedy in Toronto or wander the European-style streets of Quebec City.
- Check in on us: Do you have a Canadian friend, neighbor, or colleague? It doesn’t hurt to check in on the Canadians you know. This is a disorienting time for everyone. As a Canadian, I know it’s been uniquely challenging to feel such a palpable strain between our once-closest ally—which also happens to be the world’s most powerful military and economic superpower.
That’s what it can feel like to be Canadian right now. We share a border, a history, an economy and countless personal relationships with Americans. Canadians didn’t choose this administration, but millions of Americans did. What we can choose, however, is what happens between us now.
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Brianna Bell is a Canadian journalist whose work has been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Globe & Mail, and more. Brianna’s memoir, God Lover, will be published by Dundurn Press in June 2027.