Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker responded to President Donald Trump’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” by creating a satirical video announcing that Lake Michigan would be renamed “Lake Illinois.” The video, posted on social media platform X on Feb. 7, quickly sparked reactions from both Illinois and Wisconsin residents.

Pritzker’s statement was a tongue-in-cheek reference to Trump’s recent decision, humorously suggesting that Illinois would also annex Green Bay, Wisconsin, as part of the rebranding effort. While many recognized the joke, some were less amused. Rumors began circulating online that the Illinois legislature had introduced an actual bill to rename the lake. However, these claims were false and had no backing from the state government.

“The world’s finest geographers have concluded that a Great Lake deserves to be named after a great state,” Pritzker said in his post.

Senior Lauren Dusing found humor in both Trump’s and Pritzker’s announcements.

“I think it was a great thing to keep [Trump] busy for a little bit… if it stops him from changing other important things,” Dusing said. “But also, I kind of think it’s very funny and ironic. He’s all about [the idea that] ‘you are where you are’ at birth, but now the Gulf of Mexico is the Gulf of America? It should have just stayed the same.”

Senior Yazmin Lopez Pedroza was more reflective about the broader significance of renaming places.

“I can see the point of it being important because obviously, preserving history and tradition matters,” she said. “Some names hold a story, but in other instances, maybe it’s not that important.”

Lopez Pedroza also questioned whether Trump’s renaming would have any long-term impact.

“I feel like as long as he’s in office, probably, but maybe once he’s gone, the next president might change it back,” she said. “It’s not an urgent issue—it might just stay there or be forgotten.”

Pritzker’s video was widely interpreted as a satirical jab at Trump’s priorities, with some questioning whether renaming an ocean basin was an issue that warranted presidential attention. Despite the lighthearted nature of Pritzker’s announcement, the debate over political satire and misinformation remains ongoing.

“That sounds nice, no?” one resident said, adding that the Gulf of Mexico has been named that way since 1607.