'Putting Canada into a subordinate position': Linguist unpacks Trump's escalating rhetoric as trade war heats up

U.S. President Donald Trump has called Canadian leaders "clowns," told them to "fall in line" and repeatedly referred to Prime Minister Mark Carney as "Governor Carney."

Now, he has floated another phrase: "Lake America."

Trump suggested Tuesday that Lake Ontario could be renamed amid his escalating trade dispute with Canada, which has seen the countries impose dollar-for-dollar tariffs. He later shared an image showing "Lake Ontario" crossed out and replaced by "Lake America."

Taken individually, the remarks might sound like insults or political trolling. But University of Toronto linguistics professor Sali Tagliamonte says the words share a common pattern.

From name-calling to language that places Canada beneath the United States, Tagliamonte says Trump's word choices repeatedly communicate dominance. And as Canadian leaders respond with increasingly personal language of their own, she says the words both sides choose offer a window into how they are positioning themselves during the conflict.

'Asserting dominance': What's embedded in 'Lake America'?

When asked what connects phrases such as "Lake America," "fall in line" and "clowns," Tagliamonte was direct.

"They are all put-downs. Name calling," she told Yahoo News Canada.

Trump's use of "Lake America," she said, adds another dimension.

"One up man ship. Asserting dominance," Tagliamonte said.

The name itself carries history. Lake Ontario's name has Indigenous origins and predates both Canada and the United States. Ontario subsequently took its name from the lake.

Trump's post does not change the lake's official name. Lake Ontario is also a binational body shared by Canada and the United States. Thus, making the proposed name especially notable in the context of Tagliamonte's argument about language, identity and dominance.

Tagliamonte pointed to other examples of how place names can become tied to identity and politics.

Berlin, Ont., was renamed Kitchener during the First World War amid anti-German sentiment.

The opposite happened in Swastika, Ont. During the Second World War, the province attempted to rename the community "Winston," but residents resisted the change and retained the original name.

The examples point to the same broader idea: place names can become expressions of identity, political alignment and resistance, particularly during periods of conflict.

"In the tariff wars, the stakes are much bigger and the situation is evolving rapidly," she said. "In this context, words will be the way different sides position themselves."

'Putting Canada into a subordinate position': Why the words carry political weight

"Lake America" also doesn't exist in isolation.

Trump has repeatedly called Carney "Governor Carney," previously talked about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state and, on Monday, warned Canadian leaders to "fall in line."

Asked whether those choices form a linguistic pattern, Tagliamonte said they do.

"Absolutely. As you say, it is putting Canada into a subordinate position through words."

Akaash Maharaj, a senior fellow at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, sees a political dimension to that language.

He said Trump has built much of his political support around presenting himself as a strongman. That makes public challenges from other leaders or countries particularly significant.

Maharaj believes Trump responds by showing contempt toward those who push back, in part because failing to do so could weaken the image of strength he projects to his supporters. He also said Trump's main audience for rhetoric such as "Lake America" may not be Canadians, but Americans.

Ford's response shows the language is getting personal

Increasingly personal language is coming from north of the border too.

Ford told Trump to "kiss my a**" Monday before calling him a "loser," "bully" and "dictator." By Tuesday, Ford acknowledged that things had become personal and adopted a more conciliatory tone. On Wednesday, Ford said his words "resonated around the world."

Tagliamonte characterized Ford's initial language as the kind of "knee jerk reaction" that can emerge when tempers flare.

For her, that's precisely why the language surrounding the dispute is worth watching.

"Word choice is an incredible way to gain insight into people's ideas and thoughts," Tagliamonte said.

She believes heightened political tensions make the language leaders choose particularly revealing.

"It is a good time to watch people's words very carefully because everyone, unless they are Cool Cat like Carney, are going to reveal their hand with their words," she said.

"Excellent time to be a language scientist!"