WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Monday that New Mexico should “immediately” change its name to “New America.” He posted the demand on Truth Social shortly before leaving the White House for a midterm campaign rally in Kansas, CNN reported.
The president cannot rename a state on his own, and New Mexico’s leaders pushed back right away.
What Trump said
“New Mexico should immediately change its name to New America. We are not Mexico, we are the United States of America!” Trump wrote. He also claimed the change would add “great value and prestige” to the state, raise home values and incomes, and make residents prouder of the American flag. He added a swipe at the state’s elections, which he called “crooked.”
The post repeats an idea he floated before. In September, Trump shared a map of the state with “Mexico” crossed out and “America” written under it, and the White House’s X account reposted it. At that time he said it was “up to you” and that he would not push it.
The pattern of renaming
Trump has made several naming changes since returning to office:
- He ordered the Gulf of Mexico renamed the “Gulf of America” for federal use.
- He signed an executive order in August renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America.”
- He has repeatedly floated renaming the Strait of Hormuz the “Trump Strait.”
Can a president rename a state?
No. The president can direct how federal agencies refer to geographic features such as bodies of water in the federal Geographic Names Information System. A state’s name is different. New Mexico’s constitution says: “The name of this state is New Mexico.” The Washington Post reported that a change would probably require action by the state and by Congress. The name goes back to the 16th century, before the United States existed.
How New Mexico responded
- Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has said the state’s name is not “up for debate.”
- Sen. Ben Ray Luján posted that it is New Mexico, “always has been and always will be.”
- Deb Haaland, the Democratic nominee for governor and a former Interior secretary, said Trump should focus on ending the war, stopping tariffs and lowering costs instead of renaming the state.
- A Republican running for Congress in the state has distanced himself from the idea, according to The Washington Post.
What’s next
The reports reviewed do not mention any formal step toward a name change, such as an executive order or legislation. The White House has not said whether it will direct agencies to use “New America.” This story will be updated if that changes.
