WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has proposed renaming the state of New Mexico to “New America,” floating the idea across social media alongside altered maps and AI-generated videos.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump posted an image of the state’s geographic outline with the word “Mexico” crossed out and replaced by “America.” In an accompanying post, he claimed that “many people suggested changing the name,” adding that “New America” would be “so much more prestigious and beautiful for the people of that potentially incredible State.” The official White House account on X subsequently reposted the image.
The proposal marks the latest installment in a broader, controversial rebranding campaign targeting domestic and international landmarks. Since returning to office in 2025, Trump has issued administrative directives to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” and recently signed an executive order directing federal agencies to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America.” He has also suggested renaming international features, such as calling the Strait of Hormuz the “Trump Strait.”
However, legal and constitutional experts emphasize that the president lacks the authority to unilaterally alter a U.S. state’s name. Unlike federal designations for bodies of water, changing a state’s official title requires state-level legislation and congressional approval. Article I of the New Mexico Constitution explicitly dictates the state’s name, meaning any official change would require a state constitutional amendment—a measure that faces zero support from the state’s leadership.
New Mexico officials swiftly dismissed the president’s posts. Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham rejected the suggestion, stating that the state’s name “isn’t up for debate” and noting that “Nuevo México” carries rich cultural roots that predated the establishment of the United States. Congressional representative Melanie Stansbury similarly criticized the move, calling it a social media distraction from pressing national economic and foreign policy issues.
While the proposal generated significant attention online, political analysts view the posts as rhetorical messaging rather than an actionable policy initiative. Without formal legislative backing from New Mexico lawmakers, “New America” remains merely a presidential suggestion.
Source: El Universal
