President Donald Trump has floated renaming the state of New Mexico to “New America,” sharing a doctored map on Sunday that crossed out “Mexico” and replaced it with “America.” The post amplified a satirical hoax that fact-checkers had already debunked, drawing rebukes from state leaders and Democratic lawmakers.
Donald Trump floats new name for New Mexico and it’s ‘New America’
The photo Trump posted on Truth Social showed a large red “X” over “Mexico” in the state’s name, with “America” labeled beneath it. The official White House account reposted the map to X, though neither post indicated whether the idea represented an actual policy proposal.
Fact-checking website Snopes reported that the “New America” executive order claim originated from a satirical social media account on September 1 before going viral. Donald Trump later wrote that “many people suggested changing the name of New Mexico” to “NEW AMERICA,” calling it “so much more prestigious and beautiful.”
The episode follows Trump’s recent order renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America” amid his trade war with Canada. Last year, he also changed the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” for federal use. However, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham rejected the notion. “New Mexico’s name isn’t up for debate — it’s been ours since before the United States existed,” she told Fox News Digital, adding that the White House was “wasting time coloring on maps” while families face higher costs.
Unlike lakes and other geographic features, a president cannot unilaterally rename a U.S. state. The name “New Mexico” dates to Spanish explorers who used “Nuevo México” in the late 1500s. The territory kept the name after becoming part of the United States in 1848 and achieved statehood in 1912.
Democrats denounced the idea, noting it aligned with Trump’s previous renaming orders. House Democrats last week introduced legislation attempting to block the Lake America order and prevent further renaming of the Great Lakes.
