President Donald Trump called on New Mexico to immediately change its name to New America in a Monday Truth Social post.
"New Mexico should immediately change its name to New America," Trump wrote. "We are not Mexico, we are the United States of America! The name would add great value and prestige to the State! Home Values and Incomes would rise, and you would be even prouder while saluting our beautiful American Flag! Maybe even the Crooked Elections that New Mexico is known for would become honest again!"
The post marks the latest in a series of suggestions from Trump on the matter. He first floated the idea in September by sharing maps with "Mexico" crossed out in red and replaced by "America," along with an AI-generated video showing him altering a welcome sign.
Trump has pursued similar rebrandings during his second term. He issued an executive order on his first day back in office renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. He later directed federal agencies to refer to Lake Ontario as Lake America.
State name changes fall outside presidential authority. Any alteration to New Mexico's name would require action by the state legislature and voter approval under its constitution.
New Mexico Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham rejected the proposal, stating that the state's name has been in place since before the United States existed. Other state Democrats voiced similar opposition.
Trump has described the change as a way to enhance the state's prestige and economic standing while distancing it from associations with foreign nations. The state has voted Democratic in recent presidential elections.
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