Published on 08/09/2026 – 10:07 GMT+2
US President Donald Trump has sparked widespread debate by suggesting that the state of New Mexico be renamed “New America.” The proposal, shared on social media, was swiftly rejected by state Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who emphasized the state’s historical significance.
This latest initiative follows a pattern of name-change proposals from the Trump administration. Recently, Trump signed an order to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America” during a trade conflict with Canada. He also previously renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” and humorously suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz as “Trump Strait.”
In his post, Trump stated, “Many people suggested changing the name of New Mexico…to NEW AMERICA,” claiming it would be “so much more prestigious and beautiful.” The White House circulated an image modifying the state’s name, replacing “Mexico” with “America.”
Some media reports suggest the idea may have originated as an online hoax. Governor Lujan Grisham firmly opposed the change, telling Fox News, “The name isn’t up for debate; it’s been ours since before the United States existed.” She argued that Trump was seeking to distract from issues like high gas prices.
These renaming efforts have drawn criticism internationally, with Mexico and Canada rejecting the alterations to established geographic names.
