Trump Signals Renaming ‘New Mexico’ to ‘New America,’ Sparking Sharp Backlash

Washington
US President Donald Trump has reignited his campaign to rename geographic landmarks, this time signaling a desire to rename the state of New Mexico “New America.” Trump shared a map on Truth Social showing “Mexico” crossed out in red and replaced with “America” in the state’s name. The White House’s official account later reposted it, though no formal process to rename the state has been initiated.
Trump wrote that “many people” had suggested renaming New Mexico to “New America,” calling it a more dignified and beautiful name for the state. He also included it among states he claims experience election fraud, without clarifying who proposed the name change.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and the state’s Democratic members of Congress swiftly rejected the proposal. The governor said the state’s name is not up for debate, as it predates the founding of the United States itself. Senator Martin Heinrich said he would always refer to the “Gulf of Mexico, Lake Ontario, and New Mexico” by their original names. Representative Gabe Vasquez said the president “cannot erase New Mexico’s name, history, and culture,” while Representative Melanie Stansbury said the state’s name is tied to generations of history, culture, and families. Local leaders also called on Trump to focus instead on issues like inflation and fuel prices.
Experts say the president cannot unilaterally change a state’s legal name, since New Mexico has its own state government and constitutional framework. The US acquired most of present-day New Mexico from Mexico in 1848, with a further southwestern portion added through the 1853 Gadsden Purchase. New Mexico became the 47th US state on January 6, 1912. The move is the latest in Trump’s broader campaign to rename geographic features, following earlier orders renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” and Lake Ontario as “Lake America.”
Critics, against the backdrop of political pressure over the Iran war and rising fuel prices, have accused the president of using the naming controversy to distract from major national issues. New Mexico’s official name remains unchanged, with state officials affirming it will continue to be called “New Mexico.”