Cleveland City Council has officially endorsed a name change for part of Lake Erie—sort of. On Monday, the council passed a resolution dubbing the waters off the city’s shore the ‘Gulf of Cleveland.’ The measure, introduced by council member Kris Harsh, is purely symbolic and carries no legal weight. It passed 13-1.
A Nod to the Absurd
Harsh, who spoke with NBC News on Tuesday, described the resolution as a playful response to a broader pattern of rechristening landmarks. He pointed to President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the ‘Gulf of America’ and Lake Ontario as ‘Lake America.’ Trump has also floated renaming New Mexico as ‘New America’ and suggested declaring the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory called ‘Trump Strait.’
“I felt emboldened to rename Lake Erie,” Harsh said, adding that the president is unafraid to say what others think. The council member acknowledged that Lake Erie is not a gulf, but he dismissed the technicality with a shrug: “Who cares?”
Keeping Up with Pennsylvania
Harsh also cited a Republican effort in Pennsylvania to rename Lake Erie as ‘Lake Pennsylvania.’ He joked about a person in the Keystone State wanting to call it ‘Lake of Pennsylvania’ and said Ohioans cannot let their neighbors get ahead.
“Words do not matter,” Harsh said, arguing that what matters is the whims of powerful white men. He said the administration is equal parts cruel and absurd, and he wanted to show how absurd the renaming trend has become.
White House Defends Renaming Spree
The White House did not directly address Cleveland’s resolution, but spokeswoman Taylor Rogers defended Trump’s own renaming efforts. She said Canada has been a bad neighbor and that Trump protects American industries and workers. According to Rogers, Trump is putting America back on the map.
Trump’s Lake Ontario renaming came amid trade tensions with Canada. He signed the executive order after trade talks collapsed and tariffs were imposed. The president cannot force international entities or Americans to adopt the new names, but that has not stopped him from trying.
Maps and Popular Culture
Harsh said he hopes Apple and Google will update their maps to show ‘Gulf of Cleveland.’ The tech giants have not commented. Meanwhile, the creators of South Park announced last week that they are renaming their show ‘South America,’ adding to the satirical pushback.
The Strait of Hormuz, which borders Iran, has seen shipping drop since war began, causing oil prices to spike. Trump’s suggestion to rename it ‘Trump Strait’ has further fueled the trend of renaming as political theater.
A Growing Trend of Renaming
Trump’s renaming campaign began on inauguration day with the Gulf of Mexico. He later signed an executive order for Lake Ontario and floated the idea for New Mexico. He cannot unilaterally rename a state, but that has not stopped him from sharing social media posts about it.
Cleveland’s resolution is the latest in a series of satirical responses. Harsh said he wanted to pull back the curtain on the absurdity. The vote was 13-1, with one council member opposing. The resolution passed on Sept. 15, 2026.
While the ‘Gulf of Cleveland’ may never appear on official maps, it has already made its point: sometimes, a name is just a name.
