Ottawa Council Votes Unanimously to Rename Trump Avenue to Taco Avenue

Ottawa City Council has unanimously voted to begin the process of renaming Trump Avenue, a residential street in the city’s Central Park neighbourhood, with “Taco Avenue” emerging as the leading proposed replacement. The move comes amid heightened tensions between Canada and the United States following US President Donald Trump’s decision to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America.” The Ottawa street has carried Trump’s name for roughly 25 years and is now at the centre of a debate over whether it should continue to honour the US president.

The proposed name “Taco Avenue” has a political undertone. “TACO” has reportedly been used as a nickname for Trump on Wall Street, standing for “Trump Always Chickens Out”, a reference to criticism over changes in his policies and positions. Ottawa councillors are also considering “Obama Avenue” as another possible replacement. The final decision is expected to involve residents and could be taken after the city’s October election, as officials work through the formal process required to change the street’s name.

Ottawa City Councillor Tim Tierney said Canada has several geographical features that bear the Trump name, including lakes, islands and a creek. However, he noted that Trump Avenue is the only location specifically named after Donald Trump. Another councillor, Riley Brockington, has said he intends to work with residents on changing the name. He has described the existing street name as an embarrassment, adding another political dimension to what would normally be a routine municipal naming decision.

Also Read: Canada Rejects Trump’s ‘Lake America’ Rebrand: ‘Then, Now and Always’

The effort to change the name is not entirely new. Residents of Trump Avenue had already been consulted about a possible renaming in 2021. At that time, 62 households were asked to express their views, with 21 voting in favour of a change, 21 opposing it and 20 households not participating. The latest council vote therefore represents a renewed attempt to revisit the issue, although the eventual name and implementation will depend on the next stages of the municipal process and discussions with residents.

The dispute has gained additional attention because of Trump’s recent announcement concerning Lake Ontario. Trump said the lake would be renamed “Lake America”, arguing that Canadian officials had treated the United States poorly. The announcement came as trade tensions between Washington and Ottawa intensified. The move has been criticised by Canadian lawmakers, while the proposed Ottawa street renaming has added a symbolic response from the Canadian side to the growing political friction.

Trump previously changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America through an executive order in 2025, making the Lake Ontario decision another example of his administration seeking to alter the names of prominent geographical features. While the US president can direct federal naming policy within the United States, the proposed change to Trump Avenue is a decision for Ottawa’s municipal authorities. The possible switch to “Taco Avenue” has consequently become a highly visible local response to the broader dispute between the two neighbouring countries.

Also Read: Trump Signs Order Renaming Lake Ontario ‘Lake America’ As Canada Feud Intensifies