Can Trump rename New Mexico 'New America'? Here's what to know

Updated Sept. 8, 2026, 12:37 p.m. ET President Donald Trump's maps depicting New Mexico as "New America" have gone viral, leaving many Americans wondering whether the state's name is actually changing. The short answer is no. While Trump has repeatedly promoted the idea online and the White House has shared some of the imagery, a president cannot unilaterally rename a state. New Mexico's name is established in the state's constitution, making it very different from Trump's previous efforts to rename the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario for federal government use. The controversy erupted after Trump posted multiple maps and images over Labor Day weekend showing "New Mexico" relabeled as "New America," fueling questions about whether a formal name change was underway. Can Trump rename New Mexico 'New America'? No. Unlike lakes, gulfs and other geographic features, a state cannot simply be renamed through a presidential executive order. New Mexico's constitution explicitly states the name of the state, and changing that name would require action far beyond the White House. No executive order changing New Mexico's name has been announced. Is New Mexico becoming 'New America'? Not at this time. Despite speculation online, there is no official process underway to rename New Mexico. The proposal currently exists in social media posts and public comments from Trump rather than a formal legal effort. For now, New Mexico remains New Mexico. Why does Trump want to rename New Mexico? Trump has not released a formal policy explanation, but he has repeatedly argued that "New America" would be a better name. On Truth Social, Trump wrote: "Many people suggested changing the name of New Mexico ... to NEW AMERICA. So much more prestigious and beautiful for the people of that potentially incredible State. Wow, I Love It!!!" The posts fit into a broader pattern of Trump promoting "America"-themed names for major geographic locations. What did New Mexico leaders say about 'New America'? New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham quickly rejected the idea. "New Mexico's name isn't up for debate," she wrote on social media. "It's been ours since before the United States existed." Rep. Melanie Stansbury was even more direct, posting: "Oh hell no! Our state's name carries generations of history, culture, and family and it belongs to us. We're New Mexicans. Period." Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich also weighed in, saying there are three places he plans to keep calling by their existing names: "The Gulf of Mexico, Lake Ontario, New Mexico." Can a president change the name of a state? Generally, no. A president can direct federal agencies to use specific names for geographic features under federal jurisdiction or for federal government purposes. However, states have their own constitutions, governments and legal processes. That distinction is why legal experts say New Mexico is fundamentally different from recent federal renaming efforts. How is New Mexico different from the Gulf of America? The Gulf of Mexico is a geographic feature, not a state. Trump signed executive actions directing the federal government to use "Gulf of America" for official federal purposes. Federal agencies can follow that directive, even though other countries, organizations and news outlets may choose different terminology. New Mexico, however, is one of the 50 states and has a constitutional name that cannot simply be changed by presidential decree. Why did Trump rename Lake Ontario 'Lake America'? Trump signed an executive order Aug. 27 directing federal agencies to use "Lake America" instead of Lake Ontario. The order instructed federal agencies to update official federal records and maps accordingly. The move sparked opposition from Canadian officials and New York leaders. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canadians would continue calling it Lake Ontario, while New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said, "New York won't be calling it that." Maria Francis is a Pennsylvania-based journalist covering trending and breaking topics across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions for USA Today Network. Reach her at mfrancis@usatodayco.com.