United States President Donald Trump has stirred fresh controversy over place names after suggesting that the state of New Mexico should be renamed “New America.”
Trump made the proposal on Sunday in a social media post, arguing that the alternative name would be more prestigious and attractive for residents of the state.
“Many people suggested changing the name of New Mexico… to NEW AMERICA,” Trump said, adding that he believed the state had enormous potential.
The White House subsequently amplified the suggestion by sharing an image in which the word “Mexico” in New Mexico was struck out and replaced with “America.”
However, the proposal was swiftly rejected by New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who insisted that the state’s name was not open for discussion.
Speaking to Fox News, the governor said New Mexico had carried the name long before the United States came into existence.
She also accused Trump of attempting to divert public attention from pressing economic concerns, including rising petrol prices.
Trump’s latest naming proposal follows a series of similar moves involving geographical landmarks. Last week, he floated the idea of renaming the Strait of Hormuz the “Trump Strait” amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, although he later appeared to suggest that he was not serious about the proposal.
Earlier, Trump ordered the Gulf of Mexico to be referred to as the “Gulf of America” after returning to the White House in 2025. Mexico rejected the move.
Trump has also sought to have Lake Ontario renamed “Lake America,” a proposal that has equally been rejected by Canada.
Reports by some United States media outlets indicated that the “New America” suggestion may have originated from an online hoax before being picked up by Trump.
