Trump Suggests Renaming New Mexico to 'New America' on Social Media

President Donald Trump suggested renaming the state of New Mexico to "New America" in multiple social media posts on Monday morning and Sunday.

He shared maps on Truth Social depicting "Mexico" crossed out and replaced with "America," along with an AI-generated video showing him changing a road sign and dancing. The White House has not announced any formal effort to change the state's name. New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham rejected the proposal, stating the state's name isn’t up for debate and has been theirs since before the United States existed.

She accused Trump of coloring on maps to distract from a disastrous war in Iran and rising fuel costs. Other New Mexico lawmakers also opposed the idea. Sen. Martin Heinrich stated he would always call the Gulf of Mexico, Lake Ontario, and New Mexico by their actual names. Rep. Melanie Stansbury affirmed, "We’re New Mexicans. Period."

Rep. Gabe Vasquez said Trump could not erase New Mexico, its history or culture. Former Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, a candidate for state Governor, emphasized that New Mexico is not for renaming. Republican gubernatorial nominee Gregg Hull also said New Mexico does not need a new name, citing its history and identity. Conversely, Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah found "New America? Kind of catchy."

This suggestion follows Trump's previous actions regarding geographic names. In January 2025, he ordered the Gulf of Mexico to be referred to as the "Gulf of America" in US government usage. On August 27, he signed an executive order directing federal agencies to rename Lake Ontario "Lake America" amid a trade war with Canada. Fox Business senior correspondent Charles Gasparino warned Trump that focusing on renaming lakes and states is not what voters want, predicting a midterm disaster for Republicans.

Trump lacks the authority to rename a state; such a change would likely require action by the state and Congress. New Mexico joined the U.S. in 1912, with its name predating the modern nation of Mexico by two centuries. Trump lost New Mexico in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections.