Rep. Jeff Crank (R-CO) drew laughter at a debate after he claimed to be unaware of President Donald Trump’s order renaming Lake Ontario.
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The moment came Thursday at the Pikes Peak Center in Colorado Springs, during a debate hosted by KOAA News5 between the candidates in Colorado’s 5th Congressional District.
Colorado Politics reporter Ernest Luning put the question to both candidates hours after Trump signed the order amid a trade war with Canada.
“Lake Ontario or Lake America? The president issued an order changing the name of Lake Ontario,” Luning asked.
“Lake Ontario,” answered Jessica Killin, Crank’s Democratic challenger.
“I’m unaware of — what’s the reference?” Crank said.
The lawmaker’s answer drew laughter and groans from the audience.
“He did this morning. He changed the name to Lake America,” Luning told him.
“I don’t know. I — I have other more pressing issues I’m working on. Goodness!” Crank replied.
The debate crowd erupted once again.
Minutes earlier, Luning had asked the same pair whether the body of water to the south is the Gulf of Mexico or the Gulf of America. Killin said, “Gulf of Mexico.”
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“Gulf of America,” Crank said.
“Audience, please!” moderator Alasyn Zimmerman of KOAA said over the reaction that followed.
Trump signed the Lake Ontario order after imposing 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion in Canadian goods, according to Axios. It directs the Interior Department to update federal maps within 30 days.
“Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario – then, now and always,” Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote, per NBC News.
Crank was also deferential to Trump’s name for the Department of Defense at Thursday’s debate.
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“Department of War,” he told the moderators.
Killin pointed out that no act of Congress had changed the name.
