Cleveland Renames Lake Erie Shoreline as Gulf of Cleveland

The Cleveland City Council voted 13-1 on Monday to rename the portion of Lake Erie adjacent to the city's shoreline as the Gulf of Cleveland. The new designation extends two miles into the lake from the city's easternmost to westernmost shoreline points. The resolution mandates that all city departments use the new name in official documents and city-generated maps.

Councilmember Kris Harsh introduced the non-binding resolution as a satirical response to President Donald Trump's executive orders renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America and Lake Ontario as Lake America. The move also targets the president's suggestions to rename the Strait of Hormuz as the Trump Strait and New Mexico as New America. The city clerk has been directed to notify mapping companies, including Apple and Google, to update their digital maps to reflect the change.

The White House defended the renaming of Lake Ontario, citing trade tensions with Canada. Other entities, including officials in California and Massachusetts and the creators of South Park, have engaged in similar satirical renamings. Harsh stated the resolution highlights the absurdity of federal efforts and the influence of powerful individuals over geographical nomenclature.