After 'Lake America,' Trump suggests a new name for the state of New Mexico
White House Amplifies Trump’s “New America” Post, but No Policy Change Planned
A photo of a map that rebrands New Mexico as “New America” was retweeted by the White House’s official X account this past Sunday. The image, originally posted by former President Donald Trump on his Truth Social page, shows the word “Mexico” crossed out in bright red and replaced with “America,” giving the Southwestern state an alternate name that does not exist in any official capacity.
The White House’s reposting did not include any accompanying explanation or policy statement. In fact, no formal initiative has been announced to change the state’s name. The post simply repeated Trump’s earlier post, which contained no indication that the change would be enacted or that any government action is pending.
The timing of the post follows a series of executive actions by Trump that rebrand certain U.S. geographic features. Early in his second term, he signed an order to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America” for federal use, a move that was swiftly mirrored by Google and Apple, which updated their maps for U.S. users. In the same vein, the Gulf of Mexico was also renamed “Gulf of America” by executive order.
Unlike lakes or oceans, a state’s name cannot be altered through unilateral executive action. “New Mexico” is the name that has been in use since the territory joined the Union in 1848, and it was granted statehood on January 6, 1912. The name itself has historical roots dating back to the Spanish explorers who first used “Nuevo México” in the late 16th century.
Trump’s recent renaming of Lake Ontario came amid rising tariff tensions between Washington and Ottawa, and the president has described the renaming as a symbolic gesture in that broader trade dispute. A poll released after the Lake Ontario order found that a majority of Americans opposed the change.
No comment has been received from the White House or from the Office of New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham regarding the “New America” image or any plans to move forward with a name change for the state. The post has generated some online chatter, but it remains unclear whether Trump’s social media action was meant as a mere provocation, a rhetorical flourish, or a sign of a larger policy agenda.
Until the administration announces a formal proposal and follows the proper legal procedures—including state legislature approval and federal recognition—a state of New Mexico will retain its historic name. The White House’s sharing of the image, while drawing attention, has yet to signal any concrete intent to pursue the rename.