In a renewed proposal, US President Donald Trump suggested renaming the state of New Mexico to “New America,” aiming to bolster national pride and potentially enhance property values and incomes. This idea, shared in a social media post on October 19, is part of Trump’s broader initiative to align state names more closely with their American identity.
Trump’s proposal was accompanied by claims regarding electoral integrity in New Mexico, alleging misconduct without providing concrete evidence. This is not the first time the renaming concept has surfaced; Trump initially introduced it in September while supporting a Republican congressional candidate, suggesting that residents would ultimately decide on the name change.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has dismissed the proposal, emphasizing the state’s historical significance and the importance of focusing on more pressing issues such as healthcare, housing, childcare, and education. She argued that the state’s name should not be politicized.
This initiative follows other geographical renaming efforts during Trump’s second term, including renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” and restoring the name Mount McKinley for Alaska’s Denali. However, there has been no official move to change New Mexico’s name.