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WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump\u2019s name-changing spree found an unlikely new target on Sunday when he suggested the state of New Mexico could become \u201cNew America.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n His proposal, which was immediately dismissed by the state\u2019s governor, comes days after he signed an order to rename Lake Ontario as \u201cLake America\u201d in the middle of a trade war with neighboring Canada.<\/p>\n \u201cMany people suggested changing the name of New Mexico\u2026 to NEW AMERICA,\u201d the Republican president posted on social media. \u201cSo much more prestigious and beautiful for the people of that potentially incredible State. Wow, I Love It!!!\u201d<\/p>\n The White House reposted an image showing the Mexico part of the state\u2019s name crossed out and replaced with \u201cAmerica.\u201d<\/p>\n Some US media reports said the idea originated as an internet hoax.<\/p>\n State governor Michelle Lujan Grisham told Fox News that the name \u201cisn\u2019t up for debate \u2014 it\u2019s been ours since before the United States existed.\u201d<\/p>\n She said the president wanted to \u201cdistract Americans\u201d from issues such as soaring gas prices.<\/p>\n Trump last week suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz as \u201cTrump Strait\u201d as the war with Iran continues \u2014 then hours later implied he was not serious about the plan.<\/p>\n He renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the \u201cGulf of America\u201d on his first day back in the White House in 2025 in a move rejected by Mexico.<\/p>\n Canada has also rejected the attempt to rename Lake Ontario.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n