Trump Renews Call to Rename New Mexico 'New America'

Former President Donald Trump has reignited his proposal for New Mexico to change its name to 'New America,' asserting on his social media platform Truth Social that the state should adopt the new moniker. Trump argued that such a change would reflect the nation's identity and foster increased patriotism.

"We are not Mexico, we are the United States of America!" Trump stated on Truth Social, suggesting the rebranding could also lead to economic benefits, such as rising home values and incomes. He further linked the proposal to his concerns about election integrity, claiming "Maybe even the Crooked Elections, that New Mexico is known for, would become honest again!"

This is not the first time Trump has publicly suggested this name change. Last month, he shared an AI-generated meme depicting New Mexico with the name 'New America,' with 'Mexico' crossed out in red. He has previously made similar calls to rename geographical features, such as the Lake of Ontario to the Lake of America and the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

Following his initial post, Trump shared an AI-generated video showing himself placing a new 'America' label over a 'Welcome to New Mexico' highway sign, followed by his signature fist-pump gesture.

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham responded to Trump's suggestion, stating that the state's name is not open for debate and has been part of its identity long before the formation of the United States. She characterized Trump's proposal as a distraction from pressing national issues, such as inflation attributed to the Iran war. "While the White House wastes time coloring on maps, Nuevo México is busy doing the work," Governor Lujan Grisham said.

Legally, the president does not have the authority to unilaterally rename a state. Any alteration to New Mexico's name would require an amendment to its state constitution, a process initiated from within the state itself.