Trump Proposes Renaming New Mexico to 'New America' — Governor Fires Back: 'It's Been Ours Since Before the U.S. Existed'

President Donald Trump has ignited a fierce bipartisan backlash after suggesting that New Mexico should be renamed "New America," posting AI-generated images and maps showing the state's name crossed out with a red X. The proposal drew swift rejection from the state's Democratic governor — and even Trump's own Republican allies in the state — who pointed out that a president has no legal authority to change a state's name.

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Sunday proposed renaming New Mexico as "New America," posting a map on his Truth Social platform showing the state's name crossed out with a large red "X" over "Mexico" and replaced with "America" . The image, later reposted by the White House, was followed by an AI-generated video showing Trump slapping an "America" sign over a "Welcome to New Mexico" highway marker, then dancing to the Village People's "Y.M.C.A." .

"Many people suggested changing the name of New Mexico, one of the great vote cheating states of all time, to NEW AMERICA. So much more prestigious and beautiful for the people of that potentially incredible State. Wow, I Love It!!!" Trump wrote in his post .

A Pattern of Renaming

The proposal follows a series of similar moves by Trump. In January 2025, on his first day back in office, he signed an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" . On Aug. 27, he ordered the federal government to refer to Lake Ontario as "Lake America" amid a trade dispute with Canada . Last week, he also suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz as "Trump Strait" .

Unlike federal waters and geographic features, which can be renamed for federal use through executive action, a president cannot unilaterally rename a U.S. state . New Mexico's name is enshrined in Article I of the state Constitution, which states: "The name of this state is New Mexico" . Changing it would require amending the state constitution — a process that would involve the state legislature and a voter referendum .

Governors and State Leaders Push Back

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, swiftly rejected the proposal. "New Mexico's name isn't up for debate — it's been ours since before the United States existed," she wrote on X . She accused Trump of trying to distract Americans from "his disastrous war in Iran" and rising gas prices .

"While the White House wastes time coloring on maps, Nuevo México is busy doing the work," she added .

Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the Democratic candidate for governor, wrote: "You can't be serious. New Mexico is not for renaming. Not up for sale" .

Bipartisan Rejection

The proposal drew opposition from both parties in New Mexico. Republican gubernatorial nominee Gregg Hull rejected Trump's suggestion, saying: "New Mexico does not need a new name. This state carries the history of Native nations and Spanish explorers who named this land nearly five hundred years ago, and generations of families who built New Mexico into what it is today. That identity is not up for negotiation" .

New Mexico's Democratic senators also responded sharply. Sen. Martin Heinrich wrote: "Three things I will always call by their actual names … The Gulf of Mexico, Lake Ontario, New Mexico" . Sen. Ben Ray Luján added: "It's New Mexico, always has been and always will be" .

Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) was the most blunt: "Oh hell no!" she posted on X. "Our state's name carries generations of history, culture, and family — and it belongs to us. We're New Mexicans. Period" .

The Origins of a Name

New Mexico's name predates the United States by roughly two centuries . In the 1560s, Spanish explorers moving north called the region "Nuevo México," naming it in the hope of finding indigenous cultures as rich as the Mexica (Aztec) Empire in the Valley of Mexico . The name has no connection to the country of Mexico, which gained independence from Spain in 1821 .

The state was admitted to the Union in 1912 as the 47th state, with its name enshrined in its constitution . When Congress granted the Southwest territorial status in 1850, "New Mexico" had already been the region's name for some 270 years, making it the oldest name used universally for any U.S. state .

What Started It All?

The proposal appears to have originated from a viral hoax. On Sept. 1, the parody social media account "Daily Noud" posted a fake image falsely claiming Trump had signed an executive order renaming New Mexico . Fact-checking website Snopes traced the claim to the satirical account and debunked it . But days later, Trump posted the renamed map himself, seemingly embracing the idea .

The Bottom Line

This story has been updated with additional responses from New Mexico leaders.