Trump Suggests Renaming New Mexico State ‘New America’

US President Donald Trump has suggested renaming the state of New Mexico “New America,” prompting immediate resistance from the state’s governor and other political leaders.

Trump made the suggestion on Sunday in a post on his Truth Social platform, saying he had received proposals to change the state’s name.

“Many people suggested changing the name of New Mexico… to NEW AMERICA,” Trump wrote, describing the proposed name as more prestigious and beautiful for the state.

The White House subsequently reposted an image showing the word “Mexico” crossed out on a map of New Mexico and replaced with “America.”

The suggestion quickly drew criticism from officials in New Mexico, who rejected the idea and defended the state’s longstanding identity.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said the state’s name was not open for debate, stressing that it had existed before the United States itself.

She also accused Trump of attempting to distract Americans from pressing economic and political issues, including rising fuel prices.

Other Democratic officials also rejected the proposal. Senator Martin Heinrich said he would continue to call the state by its actual name, while Senator Ben Ray Luján insisted that it would remain New Mexico.

The proposal comes amid a series of controversial naming changes pursued or promoted by Trump since returning to the White House.

In January 2025, Trump ordered the federal government to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” More recently, he signed an order renaming Lake Ontario as “Lake America” for US federal purposes.

Trump has also floated other possible geographical name changes, including suggesting that the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean could eventually receive new names.

However, unlike federally managed geographical features, a US state cannot simply be renamed by presidential order. Any formal change to New Mexico’s name would require a constitutional process involving the state.

The latest proposal has therefore remained a suggestion rather than an official change.

The controversy has nevertheless generated widespread political reaction, with New Mexico officials arguing that the state’s name reflects generations of history, culture and identity.

Trump’s proposal comes as his administration faces continuing political disputes over economic conditions, foreign policy and his approach to federal naming conventions.