On Friday, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker took to social media to share a lighthearted, likely satirical video announcing a playful plan to rename Lake Michigan as Lake Illinois. The video, which quickly went viral, was filled with humor and political undertones, as Pritzker poked fun at recent comments made by former President Donald Trump. In the video, Pritzker began by declaring, “The world’s finest geographers, experts who study the Earth’s natural environment, have concluded a decades-long council and determined that a great lake deserves to be named after a great state.” He then issued a mock proclamation, declaring that Lake Michigan would henceforth be known as Lake Illinois. Pritzker even joked that Google had already been notified to update its maps to reflect this “momentous change,” adding a playful touch to the announcement.
The video seemed to be a direct response to Trump’s recent remarks about renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.” Trump had argued that the name change was necessary because “it’s ours,” drawing mixed reactions from the public. By satirically proposing the renaming of Lake Michigan, Pritzker appeared to be mockingly one-upping Trump’s suggestion, highlighting the absurdity of such a proposal. The video also included a clever nod to the long-standing rivalry between Illinois and Wisconsin, particularly in the context of football. Pritzker humorously announced that Illinois would be annexing Green Bay, Wisconsin, a move he claimed was necessary “to protect itself against enemies, foreign and domestic.” This playful jab was a clear reference to the historic rivalry between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers, two of the NFL’s most iconic teams.
Pritzker didn’t stop there. He also teased that his team was working on another major announcement involving the Mississippi River, which he hinted would be revealed in the coming days. The governor ended his video with a cheeky sign-off, saying, “God bless America and bear down,” a phrase often used by Bears fans to show their team spirit. The video was met with a mix of amusement and confusion, as many viewers were left wondering if Pritzker was entirely serious or just having a bit of fun. While the governor’s remarks were clearly tongue-in-cheek, they also served as a clever way to engage with his audience and stir up some lighthearted conversation.
The video also sparked a broader discussion about the nature of political communication in the modern era. By using humor and satire, Pritzker was able to draw attention to himself and his state while also subtly critiquing Trump’s earlier comments. The move was seen by many as a clever way to connect with younger, more socially engaged voters who appreciate this kind of irreverent, shareable content. At the same time, it highlighted the ongoing rivalry between Trump and his political opponents, as well as the increasingly theatrical nature of U.S. politics.
As the video made the rounds on social media, it also drew reactions from other political figures and commentators. The White House, for its part, did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment, but the video’s message was clear: Pritzker was using humor to make a pointed critique of Trump’s recent suggestions. Meanwhile, Trump’s own proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico had sparked a mixed reaction, with some people supporting the idea while others derided it as unnecessary or even jingoistic. Even Google, which Pritzker jokingly claimed had agreed to go along with his Lake Michigan renaming plan, seemed to be in on the joke, as the search giant has not actually made any official changes to its maps.
In the end, Pritzker’s video served as a reminder of the power of humor in politics. By using satire to respond to Trump’s comments, the governor was able to engage with his audience in a way that was both entertaining and thought-provoking. The video also highlighted the ongoing tensions between Trump and his critics, as well as the growing trend of politicians using social media to connect with voters in new and creative ways. While the renaming of Lake Michigan may have been a joke, the broader implications of Pritzker’s video—about the role of humor, the nature of political communication, and the ongoing rivalry between political figures—were very real indeed.
