Donald Trump Sparks Outrage by Sharing Map Renaming New Mexico to 'New America'

President Donald Trump shared a controversial map on Truth Social suggesting that New Mexico be renamed “New America,” following recent executive orders changing the names of other geographic features. The image featured the outline of the state with “Mexico” crossed out in red and replaced with “America,” though no official explanation accompanied the post.

While the White House reshared the image on X, the federal government lacks the constitutional authority to legally rename states, a process that must occur within the state itself. The post drew swift backlash from local leaders, including New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who dismissed the move as a distraction from pressing issues like soaring gas prices and foreign conflicts, stating that “New Mexico’s name isn’t up for debate.”

Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich also criticized the proposal on X, emphasizing his commitment to using traditional names. Trump has a history of utilizing executive power to alter geographic designations, previously renaming the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario, and has recently teased potential plans to rename the Atlantic or Pacific oceans.