Trump Posts Maps Suggesting New Mexico Be Renamed 'New America'
President Donald Trump posted maps and an AI-generated video suggesting New Mexico be renamed "New America," prompting strong opposition from state officials and highlighting his limited legal authority to change a state's name.
The short version
- President Donald Trump suggested renaming New Mexico to "New America" on Truth Social on Sunday, September 6, 2026, sharing maps and an AI-generated video.
- New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and other Democratic officials firmly rejected the proposal, asserting the state's name has centuries of history and is not up for debate.
- Trump linked the suggested renaming to claims of New Mexico being "one of the great vote cheating states of all time," a motivation disputed by critics.
- This suggestion follows previous Trump actions, including executive orders renaming the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America" and Lake Ontario to "Lake America."
- President Trump does not possess the unilateral legal authority to rename a U.S. state, a process that requires approval from both the state's legislature and its voters.
On Sunday, September 6, 2026, President Donald Trump initiated a social media campaign suggesting the state of New Mexico be renamed "New America." The idea, shared on Truth Social, included maps where the word "Mexico" in the state's name was crossed out and replaced with "America." Trump further posted an AI-generated video of himself changing a roadside billboard to reflect the proposed new name, with the official White House account on X (formerly Twitter) later resharing these images. On Monday, September 7, Trump continued to promote the concept, sharing seven additional maps labeling the state as "New America" within an hour.
What did President Trump say about renaming New Mexico?
President Trump stated his rationale for the name change on Truth Social, writing, "Many people suggested changing the name of New Mexico, one of the great vote cheating states of all time, to NEW AMERICA," adding, "So much more prestigious and beautiful for the people of that potentially incredible State. Wow, I Love It!!!". This ties the suggestion to his claims about election integrity.
How have New Mexico officials responded?
New Mexico's Democratic leadership has strongly rejected the suggestion. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham stated, "New Mexico's name isn't up for debate—it's been ours since before the United States existed." Governor Lujan Grisham also suggested Trump's actions were an attempt to "distract Americans from his disastrous war in Iran" and rising gas prices. Former Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland commented, "You can't be serious. New Mexico is not for renaming. Not up for sale." Senator Ben Ray Luján insisted, "it's New Mexico, always has been and always will be," while Representative Melanie Stansbury posted "Oh hell no!" on X, emphasizing, "our state's name carries generations of history, culture, and family—and it belongs to us."
Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah offered support for the idea, saying, "New America? Kind of catchy."
Does President Trump have the authority to rename a state?
President Trump lacks the unilateral authority to rename a U.S. state. The name "Nuevo México" has been in use for centuries, predating the United States itself, and the state's current name is enshrined in Article I of its constitution: "The name of this state is New Mexico." Renaming a state would require a constitutional amendment within New Mexico, needing majority support from both chambers of the state legislature and subsequent approval by a majority of the state's voters.
As of Monday, September 7, 2026, Trump had not signed an executive order to rename New Mexico, and the White House has not announced any official effort to initiate such a formal name change process.
Is this the first time Trump has suggested renaming U.S. places?
No, this suggestion is part of a broader "second-term campaign" by President Trump to rename parts of the United States that share names with foreign countries. On his first day back in the White House in January 2025, Trump issued an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America." On August 27, 2026, he signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America" for U.S. federal purposes, a move that occurred amidst an escalating trade war with Canada and reportedly led Google Maps and Apple Maps to update their displays for US users. Last week, Trump also suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz to "Trump Strait" during an ongoing war with Iran, though he later implied he was not serious about that specific plan. Additionally, Trump initiated a change of North America's tallest peak in Alaska from Mount Denali back to "Mount McKinley" for federal purposes, reversing a 2015 restoration of its native Alaskan name.
Some U.S. media reports indicate that the idea to rename New Mexico originated as an "internet hoax" before President Trump amplified it through his social media posts. While Trump has used executive orders to direct federal agencies to use new names for bodies of water, this executive power does not extend to renaming a U.S. state, which are legally distinct entities requiring their own legislative and voter approval for such changes.
This is educational information, not legal, financial, tax, or investment advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the official process for renaming a U.S. state?
Renaming a U.S. state, such as New Mexico, would require a constitutional amendment within that state. This process typically involves securing majority support from both chambers of the state legislature, followed by approval from a majority of the state's voters.
Has President Trump issued an executive order to rename New Mexico?
No, President Trump had not signed an executive order to rename New Mexico as of Monday, September 7, 2026. While he posted about the idea on social media, no formal process or official White House effort to rename the state has been announced.
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