Trump Urges New Mexico to Rebrand as 'New America,' Citing Political Agenda

President Donald Trump on Monday proposed that New Mexico should change its name to “New America,” marking the latest instance of his efforts to alter geographical names to align with his political objectives. “New Mexico should immediately change its name to New America. We are not Mexico, we are the United States of America!” Trump declared on Truth Social, shortly before departing the White House for a rally in Kansas. These remarks regarding New Mexico, a state he lost by 6 points in 2024, emerge as Republicans express concern about maintaining their congressional majorities in November, with recent polling indicating that voters feel the president is not sufficiently addressing the nation's most pressing issues. Trump asserted, without providing any evidence, that a name change would lead to an increase in “home values and incomes.” He also reiterated his unsubstantiated claims about election integrity, stating, “Maybe even the Crooked Elections, that New Mexico is known for, would become honest again!” Trump has previously suggested renaming New Mexico, though with less emphasis. In September, he shared on social media a map of the state with “Mexico” crossed out and “America” written in its place, an image that was subsequently reposted by the White House X account. This initiative is the most recent renaming campaign by Trump. In August, he signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario to “Lake America” as part of his ongoing trade dispute with Canada. Last year, he took similar action to rename the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America.” Furthermore, the president has repeatedly suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz to the “Trump Strait.” However, while Trump possesses the authority to rename geographic landmarks listed in the Geographic Names Information System, such as bodies of water, he lacks the constitutional power to legally rename states. Such a change would require action within the state itself. The name New Mexico predates the formation of the United States, originating in the 16th century, according to information from the Bureau of Indian Affairs regarding the origins of state names. New Mexico Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Monday evening dismissed Trump’s statements. “Let me repeat: New Mexico was New Mexico long before the United States existed and we’ll be New Mexico forevermore,” she posted on X. Sen. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico responded on social media, stating that the state’s name “carries generations of history, culture, and rich traditions that continue to shape who we are.” He added, “We are New Mexicans. We’re proud of our name, proud of our home, and we’re keeping both. Long after Donald Trump is out of office, we’ll still be New Mexico.” This report has been updated with additional details. CNN’s Piper Hudspeth Blackburn contributed to this report.