Trump made the suggestion in a post on Truth Social on Sunday, sharing an image showing the outline of New Mexico with the word “Mexico” crossed out in red and replaced with “America.” The image was later reshared by the White House on X.
However, neither Trump nor the White House provided an explanation for the post, and there has been no official announcement of an effort to change the state’s name.
The post came days after Trump signed an executive order changing the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” marking the latest in a series of efforts by the president to rename geographical landmarks.
Unlike geographical features listed in the Geographic Names Information System, however, a US president does not have the constitutional authority to legally rename a state. Any official change to the name of New Mexico would have to go through a process within the state itself.
Trump has previously used executive action to rename other major geographical features. On his first day back in office in January 2025, he signed an executive order changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.”
The latest post was quickly criticised by New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who accused Trump of attempting to distract Americans from other pressing issues.
“New Mexico’s name isn’t up for debate,” the Democratic governor said in a post on X.
She added that while Trump was trying to distract Americans, New Mexico was focused on addressing important issues affecting its residents.
Democratic Senator Martin Heinrich also rejected Trump’s apparent proposal, saying there were three names he would always use.
“The Gulf of Mexico. Lake Ontario. New Mexico,” Heinrich said.
New Mexico’s name has a long history that predates the founding of the United States. According to the US Bureau of Indian Affairs, the name can be traced back to the 16th century.
Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in renaming geographical landmarks, often presenting such moves as a demonstration of presidential authority and American identity.
His decision to rename Lake Ontario also came amid heightened tensions and a trade dispute between the United States and Canada.
Shortly after signing the executive order concerning the lake, Trump suggested that even larger geographical names could potentially be changed in the future.
“We have a gulf and we have a lake. Now, all we need is an ocean,” Trump said, adding that the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean could also potentially be renamed.
The White House has not announced any formal plan to change the name of New Mexico, and it remains unclear whether Trump’s post was intended as a serious proposal or simply a political statement.
Nevertheless, the image has once again drawn attention to Trump’s growing interest in renaming some of America’s best-known geographical landmarks.
