Trump suggests renaming New Mexico “New America”

Donald Trump has proposed renaming New Mexico “New America,” turning an internet joke into a presidential suggestion. The Democratic governor of the state rejected the idea immediately.

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Many people proposed changing the name of New Mexico (…) to New America.

“Many people proposed changing the name of New Mexico (…) to New America,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, capitalizing the two words. He called the proposed name “more honored and more beautiful” for residents of what he described as a potentially incredible state, adding, “Wow, I love it!”

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham told Fox News that the state's name “is not up for discussion; it is ours already before the founding of the United States.” She said Trump was seeking to divert Americans' attention from problems including soaring fuel prices.

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So much more honored and more beautiful for the residents of this potentially incredible state. Wow, I love it!

The proposal came days after Trump signed an executive order seeking to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America” amid a trade dispute with Canada. The White House reposted an image from Trump's social-media account showing “Mexico” removed from the state's name and replaced with “America.” U.S. media reported that the idea originated as an internet joke.

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It is not up for discussion; it is ours already before the founding of the United States.

Trump has also proposed renaming the Strait of Hormuz “Trump Strait” and unilaterally renamed the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America” in January 2025. Mexico's government has challenged that decision, while Canada rejected the Lake Ontario initiative. Critics and observers have portrayed Trump's focus on names as an effort to redirect public attention as his approval rating reaches a historic low and Republicans face the risk of a heavy defeat in November elections that will determine control of Congress.

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Divert Americans' attention.