President Donald Trump drew attention online over the weekend after posting about a possible name change for New Mexico. On September 6, he shared a map of the state on Truth Social that crossed out the word “Mexico” and replaced it with “America.”
Later that day, the White House’s X account shared a screenshot of Trump’s post. While some citizens supported the idea, others, including state leaders, criticized the move.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham made clear that New Mexico’s name is not up for debate. She posted on Facebook:
“New Mexico’s name isn’t up for debate — it’s been ours since before the United States existed. You know what is up for debate? Who’s showing up for working families.
While the President tries to distract Americans from his disastrous war in Iran, gas prices keep soaring. Americans are also spending more at the grocery store, losing access to health care and wondering if they’ll ever be able to afford a home.
Under Democratic leadership here in New Mexico, we’re providing families with free childcare and college, protecting access to health care and investing in housing. While the White House wastes time coloring on maps, Nuevo México is busy doing the work.”
But can New Mexico’s name actually be changed? Our team examined the facts and the legal process surrounding the issue after Trump’s social media post sparked discussion.
QUESTION #1: Where did the issue start?
WHAT’S TRUE: A viral post proposing that New Mexico be renamed “New America” appeared on Trump’s verified Truth Social account. He even repeated the idea in a series of posts on the platform. One post reads:
“Many people suggested changing the name of New Mexico, one of the great vote cheating states of all time, to NEW AMERICA. So much more prestigious and beautiful for the people of that potentially incredible State. Wow, I Love It!!!”
QUESTION #2: Is there an executive order from Trump changing New Mexico’s name to “New America”?
WHAT’S TRUE: The Trump administration has not issued any formal action, including an executive order, to rename New Mexico. There are no verified reports about an official move to change the state’s name.
QUESTION #3: What are the comments from Democrats?
WHAT’S TRUE: Democrats expressed their opposition to the proposal to rename New Mexico.
Democratic Party of New Mexico spokesperson Daniel Garcia told Newsweek: “Whether it’s a weak attempt to troll or an unhinged preview of another egotistical name change, it’s clear that Trump is willing to do just about anything to distract voters from his affordability and healthcare crisis ahead of the midterms. Of course, most New Mexican Republicans are silent on Trump’s whim to unilaterally rename our home, and some are even condoning it. This is yet another example of Republicans willing to rubber stamp even the most hurtful and nonsensical parts of the MAGA president’s failed agenda.”
Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland responded to the President’s post on X, writing: “You can’t be serious. New Mexico is not for renaming. Not up for sale.” Haaland served under the Biden administration and is the Democratic nominee to replace term-limited Lujan Grisham.
Democratic lawmakers representing the state in Congress also responded. Representative Melanie Stansbury wrote on X: “Oh hell no! Our state’s name carries generations of history, culture, and family—and it belongs to us. We’re New Mexicans. Period.”
Senator Martin Heinrich wrote: “Three things I will always call by their actual names…The Gulf of Mexico. Lake Ontario. New Mexico.”
Representative Gabe Vasquez wrote: “You don’t get to erase New Mexico. Not our name. Not our history. Not our culture. The president may want to call us ‘New America,’ but we know who we are.”
QUESTION #4: Can the state’s name be unilaterally changed, and does the Constitution authorize the federal government to rename an existing state?
WHAT’S TRUE: Unlike geographic landmarks and bodies of water, the renaming of the state requires action by the state itself. Therefore, Trump cannot, on his own, change New Mexico to New America.
New Mexico’s state Constitution addresses the state’s name in Article I, titled “Name and Boundaries.” The provision states, “The name of this state is New Mexico,” and defines its territorial boundaries. Changing that would require the state to amend its own Constitution. Voters would then have to approve the amendment.
Under Article XIX, a proposed amendment must receive support from a majority of all elected members in both chambers of the New Mexico Legislature. The proposal then goes before voters. A majority of those voting on it must approve the measure before it becomes part of the constitution.
This puts a state name change beyond the President’s unilateral authority.
QUESTION #5: What are the responses from the Republicans? Did the majority express support for the “New America” proposal?
WHAT’S TRUE: While the New Mexico Democrats slammed the proposed name change, Republicans in the state remained mostly mum on the matter. However, a few of them shared their comments on the issue.
Republican gubernatorial nominee Gregg Hull denounced the proposed name change. The former mayor of Rio Rancho said in a statement to the Albuquerque Journal, “New Mexico does not need a new name.”
“This state carries the history of Native nations and Spanish explorers who named this land nearly 500 years ago, and generations of families who built New Mexico into what it is today. That identity is not up for negotiation.”
Senator and Minority Whip Pat Woods, a Republican, supports several of Trump’s actions, including deportations of people he considers lawless. However, Woods opposes the idea of renaming New Mexico. When asked about Trump’s post, Woods told Newsweek, “about renaming the great state of New Mexico I will have to disagree with him.”
Woods emphasized the state’s deep history, noting that Spanish settlements and Indigenous civilizations existed before the United States was founded. Archaeological discoveries also indicate that humans lived in the region thousands of years ago.
Woods also highlighted New Mexico’s role in the Civil War and its centuries-old trading history. He argued that the state has a rich and extensive history and culture. “We are proud Americans, but we are also very proud New Mexican,” he said.
QUESTION #6: Did the Trump administration take any steps to pursue the proposed name change for New Mexico?
WHAT’S TRUE: Beyond Trump’s Truth Social posts, the administration has made no announcements about efforts to rename New Mexico. For now, “New America” remains a proposal promoted by the President, not an official name change. No constitutional amendment to rename New Mexico is currently underway.
QUESTION #7: How are New Mexicans reacting?
Some New Mexicans described Trump’s suggestion to rename the Democratic-run state “New America” as an attempt to erase history and culture. In a September 9 article, Reuters gathered reactions from more than a dozen New Mexicans.
“Trump you are crazy, you will not take nothing from us,” said Ethel Yazza, 67. She is a potter and member of New Mexico’s Santa Clara and Picuris Indigenous communities. Yazza lives at Picuris Pueblo, about 40 miles (64 km) northeast of the state capital Santa Fe.
Yazza’s Puebloan people were among the first to live in the area that Spanish explorers named La Nueva Mexico in the 1560s, said State Historian Rob Martinez.
“New Mexico is a beautiful name, it’s historic, it sounds beautiful, and New America does not,” said Martinez. His family has Spanish, Mexican, and Indigenous roots that span generations in northern New Mexico.
Mexican American Jesus Trevizo Martinez viewed Trump’s “New America” proposal as an attack on people of Mexican ancestry. New Mexico has the highest proportion of Hispanic and Latino residents among U.S. states, accounting for about 49% of its population.
“He’s doing it out of pure racism,” said the painter and roofer.
Meanwhile, some New Mexicans have expressed support for Trump’s proposal. Lujan Grisham’s latest Facebook post on the issue drew mixed reactions from netizens.
“New Mexicans decide? Okay, I vote New America,” a netizen commented.
“If mothers can be called ‘birthing people,’ then I see no problem with New America,” another wrote in the comment section.
“Most people in the US skipped history class and think New Mexico is in Mexico. So New America has a much nicer ring to it,” another netizen said.
“Keep New Mexico! That fits perfectly!” another citizen commented, echoing the views expressed by other New Mexicans.
In her post, Lujan Grisham said:
“New Mexicans decide what New Mexico is called.
Our name represents more than 400 years of history. The Spanish colony of Nuevo México dates to the late 1500s, and Santa Fe was established as its capital in 1610. Today, Santa Fe is the oldest state capital in the United States.
Changing our name isn’t supposed to be easy. Our Constitution was designed so that amending it requires more than one person — or one government — deciding they want something different.
To change New Mexico’s name, a constitutional amendment would first have to receive the required approval in both chambers of the New Mexico Legislature. Then it would have to go before New Mexico voters. A majority of New Mexicans voting on the amendment would have to approve it.
Our name carries centuries of history, culture and identity. And if anyone wants to change it, New Mexicans get the final say.”
The White House has not publicly responded to the criticism so far.
Brant.One will continue updating this article as more information becomes available, helping readers stay informed about the latest developments.
