The Great Lakes become part of the broadcast
A routine Thursday night preseason broadcast took an unexpected turn when Al Michaels made a timely reference to a major name-change controversy. As an aerial shot showed Lake Erie near Cleveland’s Huntington Bank Field, Michaels connected the scene to President Donald Trump’s decision to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America” for U.S. federal purposes.
The comment stood out because Trump had signed the executive order only hours earlier. Michaels used the live broadcast to joke about whether Lake Ontario would still have its familiar name when the NFL reached Buffalo.
Michaels connected the joke to Lake Ontario
Michaels said the broadcast was showing Lake Erie and joked that viewers could not be certain about future lake names. He then said the crew might pass Lake “something like Ontario” when the NFL traveled to Buffalo for Week 2.
His comments referenced President Donald Trump’s executive order directing the U.S. federal government to use Lake America for Lake Ontario. Trump signed the order earlier that same day.
Trump signed the order on Thursday
President Trump signed the Lake Ontario renaming order on August 27, 2026, in the Oval Office. The White House document directs the federal government to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America for U.S. federal purposes.
The order directs the Interior secretary, working with the Board on Geographic Names, to take appropriate renaming actions within 30 days. It also directs federal references on maps, contracts, documents, and communications to reflect the new name.
The lake crosses the U.S.-Canada border
Lake Ontario is one of North America’s five Great Lakes and lies along the border between New York and the Canadian province of Ontario. The international boundary means the lake is shared by the United States and Canada.
Trump’s order applies to American federal geographic records, rather than automatically changing Canada’s databases. Canadian officials have said Canada will continue using the name Lake Ontario officially.
The renaming followed a trade dispute
The executive order arrived during an escalating trade dispute between the United States and Canada. Trump had announced days earlier that the United States was considering changing Lake Ontario’s name while criticizing Canada’s trade policies.
The White House order describes the lake as an economic and historical resource. It cites shipping, power generation, drinking water, commerce, exploration, settlement, defense, and industry as reasons for the change.
The name change has a federal process
The order does not simply replace every reference to Lake Ontario worldwide. Instead, it directs the Interior Department to work with the Board on Geographic Names and update the Geographic Names Information System.
The federal government is directed to use Lake America on maps, contracts, documents, and communications. The order also says implementation must follow applicable law and depend on available appropriations.
Canada does not have to use Lake America
The American executive order cannot automatically require Canadian authorities to adopt the new name. Canada maintains its own geographic naming system and has publicly indicated that it will continue calling the lake Lake Ontario.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney discussed the name’s Indigenous history after Trump signed the order. Carney said Ontario comes from an Indigenous term associated with descriptions of the lake’s size and beauty.
Interesting fact: The Great Lakes contain about 84% of North America’s surface freshwater, making them one of the world’s largest freshwater systems.
Michaels was calling the game from Cleveland
Michaels made the comment while working the Patriots-Browns preseason game from Cleveland’s Huntington Bank Field. The Patriots’ official broadcast information listed Michaels as the play-by-play announcer, with Kirk Herbstreit serving as the color analyst.
The game was the final preseason contest for both teams on August 27. Cleveland defeated New England 37-13, with Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel throwing three touchdown passes.
Interesting fact: Lake Ontario is the smallest of the five Great Lakes by surface area, covering about 7,340 square miles.
The broadcast showed Lake Erie
The camera shot showed Cleveland and Lake Erie near Huntington Bank Field. Because Lake Erie is one of the Great Lakes, the aerial view linked to the discussion about Lake Ontario.
Michaels identified the body of water as Lake Erie before shifting to the naming controversy. He referenced uncertainty about Lake Ontario’s future name during the upcoming NFL season.
The Buffalo reference added another detail
Michaels referred to being near “Lake something like Ontario” by the time the NFL reached Buffalo for Week 2. The Buffalo Bills play at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, in the Buffalo area near Lake Erie rather than directly on Lake Ontario.
His Buffalo reference connected the naming issue to the NFL’s 2026 schedule. Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football schedule begins with the Detroit Lions visiting the Buffalo Bills on September 17.
The order came after earlier renaming action
Trump’s Lake Ontario order follows another recent naming decision involving the Gulf of Mexico. In 2025, his administration directed federal agencies to use Gulf of America for the body of water known internationally as the Gulf of Mexico.
The Lake Ontario order uses a similar federal naming approach inside the United States. Both actions involved bodies of water connected to international borders or naming practices.
Michaels remains Prime Video’s lead announcer
Michaels returned for the 2026 NFL season after speculation about whether he would continue broadcasting games. Amazon’s 2026 Thursday Night Football information lists Michaels and Herbstreit as the returning broadcast team for the platform’s fifth TNF season.
Michaels joined Prime Video as its lead game caller in 2022. The 81-year-old broadcaster has continued handling Thursday Night Football alongside Herbstreit during the 2026 season.
The internet is also talking about Dana White sharing his honest thoughts on Donald Trump’s massive sports spectacle.
The remark quickly became part of the night’s coverage
Michaels’ Lake Ontario reference was reported nationally after Thursday night’s broadcast. Multiple sports outlets identified the comment as a reference to Trump’s same-day executive order renaming the lake Lake America.
The episode combined a live NFL broadcast with a political development that had occurred hours earlier. The Browns’ 37-13 victory remained the game’s official result, while Michaels’ naming reference became a separate news item.
In other news, Melania and Trump’s tense Freedom 250 exchange raises questions over what was said.
What do you think of Al Michaels’ Lake Ontario joke during Thursday Night Football? Like this slideshow and comment with your take!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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