US President Donald Trump has once again turned to cartography as a political tool, this time suggesting that the state of New Mexico be renamed “New America.” The proposal, posted on his Truth Social platform, was immediately dismissed by the state’s governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, who called it a distraction from pressing domestic issues.
“Many people suggested changing the name of New Mexico...to NEW AMERICA,” Trump wrote, adding that the new name would be “so much more prestigious and beautiful for the people of that potentially incredible State. Wow, I Love It!!!” The White House amplified the idea by reposting an image with “Mexico” crossed out and replaced by “America.”
The suggestion is the latest in a series of unilateral name changes initiated by the president. Earlier this year, he renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” on his first day back in office, a move rejected by Mexico. More recently, he signed an order to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America” amid escalating trade tensions with Canada. Last week, he floated renaming the Strait of Hormuz as “Trump Strait” during ongoing hostilities with Iran, only to later suggest he was not serious.
Governor Lujan Grisham responded sharply, telling Fox News that the name “isn’t up for debate, it’s been ours since before the United States existed.” She accused the president of trying to “distract Americans” from issues such as soaring gas prices. Her office later reiterated that the state’s name is enshrined in its constitution and history, and no federal action can change it without the state’s consent.
The proposal has drawn ridicule and criticism across the political spectrum, with many pointing out that New Mexico’s name predates the United States itself, deriving from the Spanish “Nuevo México,” a region explored by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century. The state’s rich Hispanic and Native American heritage makes the suggested change particularly sensitive.
Some US media reports have suggested the idea originated as an internet hoax, but the president’s post and the White House’s reposting have given it official traction. The episode echoes Trump’s earlier suggestion to rename the Gulf of Mexico, which was met with international condemnation, particularly from Mexico and other Latin American countries.
European parallels and reactions
While the proposal is a purely US domestic matter, it resonates in Europe, where debates over place names and national identity are equally charged. From the renaming of streets in post-Soviet states to the ongoing disputes over the name of the Republic of North Macedonia, European history is replete with examples of how names carry political weight.
In a related development, Iceland has protested a Trump map that places it inside US borders, highlighting how the president’s cartographic whims can strain international relations. The map, shared on social media, showed Iceland as part of the United States, prompting a formal complaint from Reykjavík.
Trump’s name-changing spree has also extended to trade and security matters. His threat to bar Bombardier from the US market unless it builds locally has raised concerns in Canada and Europe, where the aerospace company has significant operations. Meanwhile, his administration’s approach to international agreements continues to unsettle European allies, as seen in the recent EU scrapping of a defence advisory group after member state backlash.
For Europeans, the New Mexico proposal may seem like a distant curiosity, but it underscores a broader trend of unilateralism in US foreign policy. As the continent grapples with its own identity debates—from the rise of nationalist parties in Germany, as evidenced by the AfD's victory in Saxony-Anhalt, to the ongoing tensions in the Balkans—the American example serves as a reminder of how names can become battlegrounds.
Governor Lujan Grisham’s dismissal of the proposal is unlikely to be the last word. Trump has a history of doubling down on controversial statements, and his supporters may rally behind the idea. However, any official change would require a constitutional amendment or a state referendum, both of which are highly improbable.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: in the age of Trump, even the most settled names are no longer safe from political whimsy. For now, New Mexico remains New Mexico, but the suggestion has already left its mark on the national conversation.
