Canadian rock musician Bryan Adams is facing backlash after releasing a new track, “Lake Ontario,” aimed at President Donald Trump.
The 66-year-old singer unveiled the song on Wednesday, criticizing Trump’s August executive order that sought to rename the body of water Lake America.
Although Trump is never mentioned by name, the lyrics describe “one dude” who changes the lake’s name, launches a war in Iran and refers to the Epstein files.
In one verse, Adams sings about events in Iran not unfolding as planned before comparing the president’s response to “a baby tossing the toys from the pram.” The song suggests the move was intended as a distraction.
Another line references the Epstein files gaining attention before concluding: “One day they’ll come out, and we’ll say ‘there you go’. And then we’ll all dive into Lake Ontario.”
The track also accuses Trump of disturbing the peace of people who live along the “banks and shores” of Lake Ontario, which borders New York State and the Canadian province of Ontario.
A lyric video released Wednesday shows Adams beside the lake. The singer also teased the song as part of an album scheduled for release next month.
However, the song quickly drew criticism online, with some social media users accusing the singer-songwriter of bringing politics into his music.
Adams, 66, pictured last year, released the lake-inspired track Wednesday after Trump’s August order proposed renaming it
The lyrics avoid naming Trump directly, instead describing “one dude” who renames the lake and launches a war in Iran
“Adams just lost fans. Just sing and stop talking politics,” one person wrote on X.
Another commenter mocked the singer by invoking one of his best-known songs, writing: “This guy hasn’t been relevant since the Summer of ’69.”
“Dude has lived in Europe for three decades. He should stick to writing love songs. No one cares what this European has to say about Canada,” another user posted.
A further critic wrote: “Well, there goes another artist I’ll never listen to again. They should just play music and shut the f*** up.”
Trump revived the debate over Lake Ontario’s name earlier this year as tensions with Canada intensified during a trade dispute.
In a TikTok video posted on August 26, Trump said he wanted to give the lake a more distinctly American identity.
“We’re gonna make a little change, we’re gonna call it something different than Lake Ontario,” he said.
“We’re gonna call it Lake America. And all it takes is a good pen and some intelligence.”
He then illustrated the proposal on a map, crossing out the name Lake Ontario and writing “LAKE AMERICA” above it in marker.
In Canada, the body of water continues to be known as Lake Ontario. Trump’s renaming campaign has also faced opposition from Americans across the political spectrum.
Even some conservatives have accused Trump of using the name change to divert attention from the unpopular war in Iran.
According to polls cited in the article, the continuing conflict could cost Republicans seats in traditional party strongholds during next week’s midterm elections.
The proposed change was the latest in a series of geographic renamings pursued by the administration since Trump began his second term.
In one verse, Adams sings that events in Iran were not going as planned before accusing Trump of delivering a “low blow”
The singer faced a wave of online criticism after the politically charged lyrics began circulating on social media
Trump displays the executive order proposing to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America
One of Trump’s first major geographic changes involved directing federal agencies to use “Gulf of America” instead of Gulf of Mexico. The decision soon became a prominent symbol of his America First agenda.
“We’re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America,” Trump told reporters at the time.
“Which has a beautiful ring. That covers a lot of territory. The Gulf of America, what a beautiful name. And it’s appropriate. It’s appropriate.”
The announcement drew international attention because the vast body of water borders the United States, Mexico and Cuba.
While Washington controls the terminology used by its own federal agencies, it cannot require foreign governments to adopt the geographical names favored by the United States.
