US President Donald Trump has suggested that New Mexico could be renamed “New America”, adding the state to his growing list of proposed changes to geographic names.
Trump shared an image on social media showing the word “Mexico” crossed out and replaced with “America”, but did not provide an official explanation or indicate whether his administration has any plans to pursue such a change.
“Many people suggested changing the name of New Mexico… to NEW AMERICA,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, describing the proposed name as “more prestigious and beautiful” for what he called an “incredible State”.
The White House also reposted an image showing “Mexico” crossed out in the state’s name and replaced by “America”. Some US media reports said the idea may have originated as an internet hoax.
The White House has not announced any formal effort to rename New Mexico, and it remained unclear whether Trump’s post was rhetorical or reflected an actual administration proposal.
Local officials in New Mexico did not immediately respond to the president’s post, while the White House also did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Anadolu. CNN also sought further details.
New Mexico governor rejects proposal
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, immediately dismissed the idea, saying the state’s name was not open for discussion.
“New Mexico’s name isn’t up for debate,” she said, adding that the name had been used since before the United States existed.
Lujan Grisham accused Trump of trying to distract Americans from other issues, including rising fuel prices and his administration’s handling of the war in Iran.
“While the White House wastes time coloring on maps, Nuevo México is busy doing the work,” she said in a post on X.
Democratic Senator Martin Heinrich also rejected Trump’s suggestion, saying there were three names he would always use by their actual names: the Gulf of Mexico, Lake Ontario and New Mexico.
Trump’s earlier geographic renaming moves
The New Mexico proposal comes days after Trump signed an executive order changing the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America” amid escalating trade tensions with Canada.
Canada has rejected the renaming attempt, while Trump’s administration has also been involved in previous efforts to alter geographic names.
On January 20, 2025, his first day back in the White House, Trump signed an executive order directing the Gulf of Mexico to be renamed the “Gulf of America”. Mexico rejected the move.
Trump also suggested last week that the Strait of Hormuz could be renamed the “Trump Strait” as the war with Iran continues, although he appeared to back away from the idea only hours later and indicated he may not have been serious.
Trump has repeatedly highlighted his interest in renaming geographic landmarks as a demonstration of presidential authority. Shortly after signing the Lake Ontario order, he suggested that an ocean could eventually be added to the list.
“We have a gulf and we have a lake. Now, all we need is an ocean,” Trump said, suggesting that the Atlantic and/or Pacific could potentially be renamed.
Can Trump legally rename New Mexico?
Trump has authority over the names of certain geographic landmarks through the federal Geographic Names Information System, but he does not have the constitutional power to unilaterally rename a US state.
Changing the legal name of New Mexico would require action within the state rather than simply a presidential executive order.
The state’s name also has a much longer history than the United States itself. According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the name dates back to the 16th century.
History behind New Mexico’s name
New Mexico became a US territory in the mid-19th century following the Mexican-American War. Under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, Mexico formally ceded the region, along with California, to the United States.
Despite its historical connection to Mexico, the state retained the name New Mexico, which predates the founding of the United States.
Trump’s latest proposal therefore appears unlikely to result in an immediate legal name change, particularly given the opposition from New Mexico’s state leadership.
