In a recent social media post, President Donald Trump has reiterated his proposal to rename the state of New Mexico as “New America.” Trump argues that this change would bolster national pride and potentially enhance property values and incomes in the state. This proposal, initially floated in September, has been met with opposition from New Mexico’s leadership and skepticism from the public.
Trump’s latest comments, made on October 19, emphasize the need for a name that better represents the state’s identity as part of the United States. In the same post, he also raised concerns about the integrity of elections in New Mexico, alleging misconduct without providing evidence to support these claims.
The idea of renaming New Mexico was first introduced by Trump when he shared an altered map and used the name “New America” while endorsing a Republican congressional candidate. At that time, he suggested that the residents of New Mexico would ultimately decide the fate of the proposal.
However, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has firmly rejected the idea. She argues that the name “New Mexico” has significant historical roots and should not be subjected to political manipulation. Lujan Grisham emphasized that her administration’s focus remains on addressing critical issues such as healthcare, housing, childcare, and education access.
This proposal is part of a series of geographical renaming initiatives put forward during Trump’s second term. These include the federal designation of the “Gulf of America” for the Gulf of Mexico and the restoration of the name Mount McKinley for Denali in Alaska. Despite these initiatives, no official steps have been taken to change New Mexico’s name.