President Donald Trump, a man with a well-earned reputation for not taking any guff from anyone, no matter what side of the political spectrum they happen to fall on, had some harsh words for U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and slapped her with one of his witty nicknames after the two got into a spat following his decision to rename “Lake Ontario” the “Lake America.”
Trump signed an executive order on August 27 that directed the Interior Department and U.S. Board of Geographic Names to update the Geographic Names Information System so that federal maps, documents, and communications use “Lake America” instead of “Lake Ontario.” The change applied only to U.S. government usage, which means that Canada and other parties will not be required to adopt the new name.
The president issued the order after trade talks between the U.S. and Canada fell through and the United States imposed 50% tariffs on $20 billion in Canadian goods, while Canada announced reciprocal measures. Dingell, whose district borders Great Lakes waters, slammed the renaming. She went on to say that the Great Lakes are a shared resource that has been protected by both the U.S. and Canada.
Dingell said she is planning to introduce a new piece of legislation called the “Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act,” alongside Reps. Tim Kennedy (D-NY) and Joe Morelle (D-NY). The bill would declare the president’s executive order without force or effect, restoring the name Lake Ontario, and ban the president from furthering renaming the Great Lakes, a report from Trending Politics News revealed.
The Michigan Democrat then described Trump’s order as a “distraction” from economic issues facing the country, adding that the president was dividing folks and redirecting their attention from a trade policy that she claims raises costs and threatens workers. Dingell then said that after finishing up “arts and crafts in the Oval,” the president should take time to address those matters.
President Trump was not about to let those comments slide. He responded to the congresswoman’s statements by referencing the past interactions he had with her husband. “Upon his death, I gave Congressman John Dingell, the Royal Sendoff, MAXED OUT! His wife, Debbie Dingbat, called me and thanked me profusely, while crying uncontrollably. She couldn’t believe I would do such a nice thing,” he wrote.
“Since then, she says nothing but bad about your favorite President, ME! Every time I see that Third Rate Loser ripping me, I’m amazed, because I’m a loyal person, I don’t do things like that but, that’s OK — It’s Politics. However, it shouldn’t be that way!” the president added. Loyalty has always been one of the core values that Trump has demanded from those he works with, as conservatives have attested to during his time in office.
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The reference in President Trump’s post concerns events that transpired after former Rep. John Dingell, who at the time was the longest-serving member of Congress, passed away in February 2019. The president ordered all U.S. flags to be lowered to half-staff to show Dingell the utmost honor following his passing as a means of honoring his years of service.
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