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Trump has a new name for New Mexico. New Mexico has thoughts.

September 8, 2026 | | Print Article

Lawmakers from New Mexico went ballistic over President Donald Trump suggesting their state deserves a name change.

On Sunday, Trump posted an image of a map in which New Mexico had been renamed “New America,” which is in line with his moves to change the names of American geographic areas during his second term. It didn’t take long for Democratic lawmakers in the state to flip out on social media, despite the president not having said a word in the post.

Look:

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham responded within hours, declaring that her state’s name “isn’t up for debate.”

“New Mexico’s name isn’t up for debate — it’s been ours since before the United States existed. You know what is up for debate? Who’s showing up for working families,” she wrote. “While the President tries to distract Americans from his disastrous war in Iran, gas prices keep soaring. Americans are also spending more at the grocery store, losing access to health care and wondering if they’ll ever be able to afford a home.”

“Under Democratic leadership here in New Mexico, we’re providing families with free childcare and college, protecting access to health care and investing in housing. While the White House wastes time coloring on maps, Nuevo México is busy doing the work,” Grisham boasted.

Democratic Congressman Gabe Vasquez issued a statement, using the issue to attack his Republican opponent, Greg Cunningham.

“You don’t get to erase New Mexico. Not our name. Not our history. Not our culture.
The President may want to call us ‘New America,’ but we know who we are. Greg Cunningham has pledged himself to Trump’s agenda but New Mexico has an opportunity to elect someone who represents us—real New Mexicans– not the sellouts like Cunningham,” he said.

Rep. Melanie Stansbury was also not amused by the suggestion:

“Oh hell no! Our state’s name carries generations of history, culture, and family—and it belongs to us. We’re New Mexicans. Period,” she said.

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