In a surprising move, President Donald Trump proposed that the state of New Mexico be renamed to “New America.” The suggestion, made during a series of social media posts, was swiftly rejected by New Mexico’s Governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham.
This latest proposal follows Trump’s recent actions, including an order to rename Lake Ontario to “Lake America” amid ongoing trade tensions with Canada. Trump claimed that many people had suggested the name change for New Mexico, stating it would be more “prestigious and beautiful for the people of that potentially incredible State. Wow, I Love It!!!” The White House even shared an image illustrating the proposed change, with the original name altered.
Governor Grisham responded to the suggestion, asserting that the name New Mexico is not subject to debate, emphasizing its long-standing historical significance. She criticized the president’s motives, suggesting that such proposals are distractions from pressing issues faced by Americans, such as rising gas prices.
This is not the first time Trump has attempted name changes associated with geographical landmarks. Last week, he floated the idea of renaming the Strait of Hormuz to “Trump Strait” amid military tensions with Iran, only to later imply he was not serious.
Such efforts have met with resistance; Mexico has rejected Trump’s renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America,” and Canada has similarly dismissed the change to Lake Ontario.
