Trump wants the state of New Mexico to be renamed New America and claims that the change would increase revenue and home values

President Donald Trump called for the state of New Mexico to immediately change its name to “New America,” arguing that the territory should not be associated with Mexico. The statement was published on Truth Social before Trump left for an election rally in Kansas.

Trump claimed, without presenting evidence, that a potential renaming would increase home values and revenues. He also repeated unfounded allegations of rigged elections in New Mexico, a state he lost in 2024 by a six-percentage-point margin.

The initiative comes at a time when Republicans are concerned about preserving their congressional majorities in the November elections. Polls cited by CNN show that voters believe the president is not paying enough attention to the country’s most pressing problems.

Trump had previously suggested changing the state’s name, posting a map in which “Mexico” was crossed out and “America” appeared in its place. The proposal is part of a broader series of symbolic initiatives: the president has supported renaming the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America,” proposed “Lake America” for Lake Ontario, and floated the name “Trump Strait” for the Strait of Hormuz.

Although the administration can change the names of certain geographic landmarks managed at the federal level, Trump cannot unilaterally change the name of a state. Such a change would have to be decided through New Mexico’s constitutional procedures.