The Proposed Rebrand
President Donald Trump is calling for New Mexico to be renamed “New America,” and he says the change should happen “immediately.” In a Truth Social post, Trump argued that the state is part of the United States, not Mexico, and said the new name would bring “great value and prestige.” He also claimed the rebrand could help home values and incomes rise while making residents prouder as they salute the American flag. That is an ambitious sales pitch for a new sign and some revised stationery. Trump added that even the “Crooked Elections” New Mexico is “known for” might become honest again, framing the proposed name change as both a patriotic makeover and a cure for the state’s political troubles.
NEW: President Trump says New Mexico should "immediately change its name to New America."
"We are not Mexico, we are the United States of America! The name would add great value and prestige to the State!" pic.twitter.com/D050iPgK1e
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 19, 2026
The Constitution Gets a Vote
The proposal runs into a basic constitutional obstacle: New Mexico’s name is protected by the state constitution. The president cannot change it by executive order or by simply announcing a preferred label online. The state legislature would have to approve a constitutional amendment, and voters would then have to approve that measure in a statewide ballot initiative. In other words, the plan requires lawmakers and voters to participate, which is usually how constitutional government spoils a quick rebranding campaign. The report also notes that Trump previously floated similar renaming ideas, including calling Lake Ontario “Lake America” and renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” through executive orders. New Mexico, however, is governed by a different process and cannot be renamed from the White House alone.
New Mexico Officials Reject the Idea
State officials have shown little interest in the proposal. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham opposed it, and both gubernatorial candidates identified in the report, Democrat Deb Haaland and Republican Gregg Hull, rejected the suggestion. Hull said, “New Mexico does not need a new name,” arguing that the state carries the history of Native nations, Spanish explorers, and generations of families who built their lives there. He added that this identity “is not up for negotiation.” The source also notes that Trump has not endorsed Hull in the gubernatorial race, leaving the rename proposal politically separate from the Republican candidate who has publicly rejected it.
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