Trump's Lake Ontario rename draws distraction claims

US President Donald Trump's order to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America” has become part of a wider argument over whether he is trying to shift attention away from difficult issues before the November midterm elections.

Trump called reporters into the Oval Office on Thursday to announce the lake order, after days of trade tensions with Canada. Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the move “a pathetic attempt at distraction.”

William Galston of the Brookings Institution told AFP that Trump “specializes in diversions.” The Atlantic reported that the White House strategy on the Iran war was to push the conflict into the background, avoid more military action and focus on less prominent economic measures against Tehran.

Trump has also recently raised the prospect of talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, praised Kim, criticised South Korea and scaled down joint military drills with Seoul. He has posted about work at the White House, including “cleaning and regrouting the Granite” at an entrance.

At the same time, Trump is trying to keep himself central to the Republican midterm campaign. “Pretend I'm on the ballot,” he told Fox News on Wednesday. He is also planning television ads about his record using a $400 million political fund.

The White House has highlighted what it called “14 recent wins,” including efforts on mail-in ballots and increased deportations of migrants. Trump still faces pressure from the Iran war and the economy as Republicans try to keep control of Congress.