President Donald Trump has a new naming idea, and it's not going over well with the people who actually live in the place he wants to rename. On Sunday, Trump suggested that New Mexico should be called "New America," arguing the new name would be "so much more prestigious and beautiful for the people of that potentially incredible State. Wow, I Love It!!!"
To illustrate his point, Trump posted an image on Truth Social showing the word "Mexico" crossed out on a map of New Mexico and replaced with "America." The White House later amplified the image by reposting it on X.
This isn't just a casual suggestion. It's part of a broader pattern of Trump trying to put his stamp on the country's geography, often by renaming things after himself or just giving them a more, shall we say, patriotic spin. But this time, he's run into a wall of resistance from New Mexico's leaders, who are not exactly thrilled about having their state's identity erased.
New Mexico Fires Back
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) was quick to shut down the idea. In a post on X, she wrote that "New Mexico's name isn't up for debate — it's been ours since before the United States existed." She then pivoted to what she sees as the real issues, accusing Trump of trying to distract Americans from "his disastrous war in Iran" while gas prices keep soaring.
Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) took a more direct approach, listing three things he'll "always call by their actual names": the Gulf of Mexico, Lake Ontario, and New Mexico. That last one is a pointed jab, given Trump's recent executive order renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America."
Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) was even more blunt, writing, "Oh hell no!" in response to the proposal. She defended the state's name, saying it "carries generations of history, culture, and family—and it belongs to us. We're New Mexicans. Period."
Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) echoed that sentiment, saying, "You don't get to erase New Mexico. Not our name. Not our history. Not our culture." He also took a swipe at a political opponent, suggesting that while the president may want to call the state "New America," New Mexicans know who they are.
A Pattern of Renaming
This isn't Trump's first foray into renaming things. In fact, it's become something of a hobby. Earlier this month, he floated calling the Strait of Hormuz "Trump Strait," claiming the waterway was under U.S. control and saying the name would be "hotter."
Last month, he made it official with Lake Ontario, signing an executive order to rename it "Lake America" and directing the Interior Department to update the federal geographic names database. That move came amid rising U.S.-Canada trade tensions, so it's probably safe to say it wasn't just about the scenery.
Trump has also been busy in the nation's capital. The Kennedy Center's board voted to restore Trump's name to the complex and rename its grounds "President Donald J. Trump Plaza," while also approving a two-year renovation closure. And in July, he celebrated the renaming of Palm Beach International Airport as The President Donald J. Trump International Airport, with his Boeing 757 becoming the first aircraft to land there.
So, what's the takeaway here? For New Mexicans, it's clear: their state's name is not up for grabs, no matter what the president says. And for the rest of us, it's a reminder that in the world of Trump, even geography isn't safe from a rebranding campaign.
Image via Shutterstock/ Joey Sussman
