Waterways aren’t alone in getting targeted for a rebrand, as President Donald Trump made an economic pitch to change a state’s name.
“The name would add great value and prestige to the State!”
Since returning to the White House at the beginning of 2025, the president’s America First agenda has manifested in more ways than just addressing fraud, negotiating trade deals, and securing the border. Having also seen fit to change names, Trump’s pursuit of cartographic supremacy moved beyond large bodies of water to the 47th state, New Mexico.
Taking to Truth Social on Monday, the chief executive re-upped a previous pitch to see the Land of Enchantment renamed to New America. “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!”
“Home Values and Incomes would rise,” assured the president, “and you would be even prouder while saluting our beautiful American Flag! Maybe even the Crooked Elections, that New Mexico is known for, would become honest again!”
https://t.co/B9DNdLmi36
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 19, 2026
The seemingly unprompted social media sales pitch was not the first time that Trump suggested the southwestern state reaffirm its allegiance north of the border.
In September, the president shared an image of a map of New Mexico with “Mexico” crossed out and replaced with “America.”
https://t.co/Jh3DHXnflT
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 6, 2026
Likewise, as part of his endorsement for U.S. Marine Corps veteran Greg Cunningham, running to defeat New Mexico Rep. Gabriel Vasquez (D) in the race for the state’s 2nd Congressional District, Trump began his video filmed in the Oval Office, “Hello, New America, formerly known as New Mexico.”
After some words about the congressional nominee, Trump made clear, “I do like the change, by the way, to New America. What a beautiful change that would be. Up to you. I’m not gonna push it. But, a lot of people are liking it a lot.”
Greg Cunningham has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next U.S. Representative from New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN! President DONALD J. TRUMP https://t.co/qrNbwDTmRz
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 3, 2026
Were New Mexico to change its name, it would be the third map alteration to include “America” since the second administration began. Amid trade tiffs to both the north and south of the U.S., the president already gave a rebrand to the Gulf of Mexico, now the Gulf of America, and Lake Ontario, now Lake America.
Additional name changes that have been proposed include slapping Trump’s name on the Strait of Hormuz and giving the “America” treatment to either the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean.
Naturally, the proposal did not go unanswered as New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham used the opportunity to peddle claims about Democratic policy successes.
“This tired New America bit again? … You have to ask — what policy failure is Trump trying to distract Americans from this time?” wrote the governor. “Let me repeat: New Mexico was New Mexico long before the United States existed and we’ll be New Mexico forevermore. And while we’re talking about our great state, Americans should also know we’ve been busy delivering universal, no cost child care. We’re also the only state that fully replaced health care subsidies that were gutted by Trump and congressional Republicans.”
This tired New America bit again? 🙄 You have to ask — what policy failure is Trump trying to distract Americans from this time?
Let me repeat: New Mexico was New Mexico long before the United States existed and we’ll be New Mexico forevermore. And while we’re talking about our great state, Americans should also know we’ve been busy delivering universal, no cost child care. We’re also the only state that fully replaced health care subsidies that were gutted by Trump and congressional Republicans.
Independent experts say our elections are among the most secure in the nation. It’s just that Trump can’t seem to accept that voters are rewarding Democrats for policies that make life easier for working families.
¡Viva Nuevo Mexico! 🌶️
— Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (@GovMLG) October 19, 2026
“Independent experts say our elections are among the most secure in the nation. It’s just that Trump can’t seem to accept that voters are rewarding Democrats for policies that make life easier for working families,” she went on before concluding in Spanish, “¡Viva Nuevo Mexico!”
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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