President Donald Trump proposed renaming New Mexico to "New America" in a post on Truth Social on September 6, 2026. He crossed out "Mexico" in an image of the state and suggested the change as part of his broader initiative to adopt more America-centric names for geographical features. This follows previous name changes he enacted, including renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America" and the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America."
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham criticized Trump's proposal, stating, "New Mexico’s name isn’t up for debate — it’s been ours since before the United States existed." She accused Trump of attempting to distract from his administration's issues, particularly regarding the war in Iran.
Other New Mexico Democrats also expressed their disapproval. Senator Martin Heinrich stated, "Three things I will always call by their actual names… The Gulf of Mexico, Lake Ontario, New Mexico." Senator Ben Ray Luján added, "It’s New Mexico, always has been and always will be." Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland remarked, "New Mexico is not for renaming. Not up for sale," while Representative Melanie Stansbury emphasized the historical significance of the state's name, saying, "Our state’s name carries generations of history, culture, and family—and it belongs to us. We’re New Mexicans. Period."
Trump's suggestion to rename the Strait of Hormuz to "Trump Strait" was also mentioned, although he later indicated he was "just throwing that out" during a press conference.