Donald Trump Latest Live News: US President Donald Trump has come up with yet another surprising renaming suggestion for his increasing number of geography rebranding proposals. In a post on Truth Social on September 6, Trump posted an image of a map where the name “New Mexico” had been rewritten as “New America,” with “Mexico” being crossed out and “America” written instead. This post was later boosted by the White House on X while the post has quickly generated political backlash from New Mexico, one thing must be noted: New Mexico has not been officially renamed.
Trump Floats ‘New America’ Name for New Mexico
As Trump said, many people have proposed renaming New Mexico “NEW AMERICA,” which he considered to be a prestigious and beautiful name. This proposal came immediately after the Trump administration issued an order renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America” for the purpose of the United States government. This order was signed on August 27 while in contrast, the renaming of New Mexico remains nothing more than a social media proposal and not an official government decision.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 6, 2026
Why New Mexico Cannot Simply Be Renamed by Trump
To rename a US state is not at all similar to renaming the geographical place that the government agency uses. New Mexico was admitted into the Union as the 47th state on January 6, 1912. Its name is an integral part of the constitution and legal documents of the State. No one can change the name of a state through any executive order. This fact makes “New America” quite different from the Lake Ontario order where the President directs the government agencies to call the lake “Lake America.”
New Mexico Governor Pushes Back
However, the governor of New Mexico Michelle Lujan Grisham declined US President Donald Trump’s idea, claiming that the state name was not up for discussion. The other members of the New Mexico legislature were against this idea as well. In fact, their arguments were not only about the name itself but about the meaning and culture associated with “New Mexico.” The reaction highlights why changing a state name would be considerably more complicated than updating a federal database or map.
From Gulf of America to Lake America
This new policy comes after a precedent has been set. In January 2025, the Trump government sought to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” According to the government, renaming came as part of its efforts to promote American history and identity. Subsequently, in August 27, 2026, Trump issued another executive order which sought to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America.”
As per the executive order, the Interior Department and Board on Geographic Names were mandated to update all federal records and the Geographic Names Information System. This is in contrast to the case of a state, where this would have an impact on naming convention in that area.
What Does ‘New America’ Mean for Trump’s Naming Push?
In any case, “New America” is a political slogan for the moment and not a legal term change. It should be pointed out that the timing is quite significant since the Spanish and Mexican legacy of the area is clearly reflected in the state’s name.
In turn, the proposal of Donald Trump goes far beyond just the replacement of a label on the map since it raises a much more significant issue. At the same time, it seems unlikely that “New America” will become an official name of the state in the nearest future as the state government rejects the proposal.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and reflects reported developments. It does not constitute political, legal or professional advice.
