Trump Posts Map Renaming New Mexico as “New America,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Rejects

President Donald Trump posted a map suggesting New Mexico be renamed “New America,” showing “Mexico” crossed out with a red “X” and “America” inserted below, and the White House reposted the image on its official X account.

“Trump posted a map of New Mexico on Truth Social showing a large red “X” over “Mexico” in the state's name”

Albuquerque Journal

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham rejected the idea in a post on X, saying, “New Mexico’s name isn’t up for debate — it’s been ours since before the United States existed.”

ABC

The proposal came after Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” and he previously renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America,” according to the reporting.

The Center Square said Trump’s post followed a social media rumor that he’d already signed an executive order changing the name of the 47th state, and it quoted Trump writing, “Many people suggested changing the name of New Mexico, one of the great vote cheating states of all time, to NEW AMERICA.”

Legal analysis in the Law Commentary said the New Mexico Constitution blocks any unilateral change by executive order because Article I states: “The name of this state is New Mexico.”L

Democratic leaders and candidates in New Mexico pushed back immediately, with the Albuquerque Journal quoting Rep. Melanie Stansbury writing, “Oh hell no!” and adding, “Our state’s name carries generations of history, culture, and family — and it belongs to us.”

The same outlet reported Republican gubernatorial nominee Gregg Hull rejecting the proposal, saying, “New Mexico does not need a new name,” and arguing the state’s identity is “not up for negotiation.”

African Manager

Deb Haaland, the Democratic nominee to replace term-limited Lujan Grisham, told X, “You can’t be serious. New Mexico is not for renaming. Not up for sale.”

The Hill described Lujan Grisham’s response as she said, “What is up for debate? Who’s showing up for working families,” while also linking the controversy to broader economic frustrations.

The Washington Post characterized the idea as something Trump “lacks authority to rename New Mexico or any other state,” while noting the suggestion arrived amid a “torrent of online memes and taunts.”

The Law Commentary said changing New Mexico’s official name would require a constitutional amendment, pointing to Article XIX’s process in which a proposed amendment must win support of a majority of all elected members in both chambers of the New Mexico Legislature and then be approved by a majority of voters.L

“Changing that language would require a constitutional amendment.”

Law Commentary

It also said Trump had not signed an executive order seeking to rename the state as of Monday, and that no formal process to change the name was underway.

The Center Square reported that since Sunday Trump had posted seven different photos of New Mexico featuring the name New America to his social media, and it said the White House reshared the original post.

In the meantime, the Law Commentary contrasted New Mexico with Rhode Island, where voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2020 shortening “State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” to “State of Rhode Island.”

The Albuquerque Journal said Trump and the White House announced no formal effort to change New Mexico’s name and that the post left unanswered whether he intends to pursue a change beyond the social media proposal.A