ISTANBUL, Oct 20 – U.S. President Donald Trump renewed calls on Monday, October 19, 2026, for the southwestern state of New Mexico to officially rename itself “New America,” claiming the alteration would significantly increase real estate values, household incomes, and national prestige.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump argued that the state’s existing name created unnecessary association with Mexico.
“New Mexico should immediately change its name to New America. We are not Mexico, we are the United States of America!” Trump wrote. “The name would add great value and prestige to the State! Home Values and Incomes would rise, and you would be even prouder while saluting our beautiful American Flag!”
The proposal marks a continuation of Trump’s broader push to rebrand major U.S. geographic landmarks and states using nationalist naming conventions.
Constitutional Hurdles and Landmark Naming Directives
Key context surrounding the legal feasibility and background of Trump’s geographic rebranding initiatives includes:
- Constitutional Requirements: The U.S. President lacks unilateral authority to rename an existing state. Altering New Mexico’s name would require an amendment to the state’s constitution, a move firmly rejected by New Mexico’s Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham when Trump first floated the idea in September 2026.
- Gulf of Mexico Executive Order: In January 2025, Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to adopt “Gulf of America” in place of the Gulf of Mexico for official federal mapping and documentation.
- Lake Ontario Directive: In August 2026, Trump signed another executive order directing federal agencies to refer to Lake Ontario, which straddles the U.S.–Canada border, as “Lake America”.
- Ocean Rebranding Statements: During an October 10 rally in Tennessee and an October 16 rally in Georgia, Trump publicly floated renaming either the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean to “Trump Ocean” or the “Ocean of the Americas,” later claiming he had jokingly queried Google regarding the name change.
Governor Lujan Grisham’s office maintains that no legislative or constitutional steps will be taken to alter the state’s official name.
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