Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has made headlines with a satirical video in which he humorously announces the renaming of Lake Michigan to "Lake Illinois" and proposes the annexation of Green Bay, Wisconsin. This playful jab comes in response to former President Donald Trump’s recent executive order that renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and sought to acquire Greenland from Denmark.
In a choreographed video released on Friday, Pritzker, with a straight face and accompanied by the sound of fake camera shutter clicks, proclaimed the change to Lake Michigan. He quipped, "The world’s finest geographers… have concluded… that a great lake deserves to be named after a great state." He further stated, "Today, I’m issuing a proclamation declaring that hereinafter, Lake Michigan shall be known as Lake Illinois," adding that the proclamation has been sent to Google to update maps accordingly.
The video also took aim at Trump’s plan to purchase Greenland, with Pritzker claiming that Illinois would now annex Green Bay "to protect itself against enemies, foreign and domestic." He emphasized this point by stating, "In addition, the recent announcement that to protect the homeland, the United States will be purchasing Greenland… Illinois will now be annexing Green Bay."
Pritzker’s remarks are part of a broader pattern of tension between him and Trump, particularly regarding immigration policies and executive orders. The governor has previously criticized Trump’s attempts to end birthright citizenship, labeling the move unconstitutional. Their clashes have intensified over the years, with Pritzker accusing the Trump administration of failing to provide adequate support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the video, Pritzker concluded with a nod to the Chicago Bears and their rivalry with the Green Bay Packers, saying, "God bless America and bear down." This lighthearted approach underscores the ongoing political rivalry and the use of humor in political discourse.
The governor’s antics come at a time when Trump is facing scrutiny for his executive orders and policy decisions, including his controversial geographic name changes. As Pritzker’s video circulates, it highlights the interplay of satire and politics, particularly in the context of state and national identity.