New Mexico officials are pushing back against President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the state be renamed "New America."
Key facts
- •President Trump suggested on Truth Social that New Mexico be renamed "New America."
- •Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham stated that the federal government has no authority to change a state's name.
- •Renaming the state would require a constitutional amendment approved by New Mexico voters.
- •Senator Martin Heinrich criticized the president's previous attempts to rename the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario via executive order.
- •Representative Melanie Stansbury and Senator Ben Ray Luján publicly rejected the proposal.
New Mexico Democratic leaders have publicly rejected President Donald Trump’s suggestion on Truth Social that the state be renamed "New America." Trump claimed he received suggestions for the name change and expressed support for the idea amid ongoing trade negotiations with Mexico. State officials have dismissed the proposal, emphasizing that the federal government lacks the authority to rename a state.
Official Response from State Leadership
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham stated that the state's name is not open for debate, noting it has existed since before the United States. She accused the president of using the suggestion to distract from his administration's policies, including the war in Iran, rising gas and grocery prices, and challenges in housing and healthcare access. U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich also criticized the proposal, linking it to the president's previous executive orders attempting to rename the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario.
Congressional Opposition
Senator Ben Ray Luján and U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury joined in the opposition. Luján stated the state’s name is permanent and criticized the president’s conduct. Stansbury released a video from the banks of the Rio Grande affirming the state's pride in its name and identity. Any formal renaming of the state would require a ballot measure to amend the New Mexico state constitution.
Timeline
- January 2025The administration moved to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" following the president's return to office.
- August 2025The administration moved to rename Lake Ontario as "Lake America" amid trade tensions with Canada.
- Labor Day 2025President Trump posted on social media in support of changing the name of New Mexico to "New America."
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Guardian US Politics, Guardian US Politics.
