Politics
Trump Sparks Backlash After Sharing Map Relabeling New Mexico as 'New America'
President Donald Trump ignited controversy on Sunday after posting an image on Truth Social depicting New Mexico with its name altered to 'New America.' The graphic, which the White House also shared on X, showed the state's outline with 'Mexico' crossed out in red and replaced by 'America.' No explanation accompanied the post, and the White House has not announced any formal initiative to rename the state. CNN sought further clarification but received no immediate response.
The post came just days after Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' within the federal Geographic Names Information System. While the president holds authority to alter names of geographic features like lakes within that federal database, he lacks constitutional power to rename U.S. states, a change that would require action at the state level.
This is not Trump's first attempt at renaming prominent geographic sites. In January 2025, on his first day back in office, he signed an executive order changing the Gulf of Mexico's name to the Gulf of America.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, criticized the president's latest post, suggesting it was a diversion tactic. 'While the President tries to distract Americans from his disastrous war in Iran, gas prices keep soaring,' she wrote on X. 'While the White House wastes time coloring on maps, Nuevo México is busy doing the work.'
Democratic Senator Martin Heinrich also responded critically, stating on X: 'Three things I will always call by their actual names: The Gulf of Mexico. Lake Ontario. New Mexico.'
According to a fact sheet from the Bureau of Indian Affairs detailing the origins of state names, New Mexico's name dates back to the 16th century, long before the founding of the United States.
Trump has repeatedly emphasized his interest in renaming landmarks as a demonstration of presidential authority. His decision to rename Lake Ontario coincided with ongoing trade tensions with Canada. Following that announcement, Trump hinted at further renaming ambitions, suggesting he might consider changing the names of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. 'We have a gulf and we have a lake. Now, all we need is an ocean. So, maybe we'll have to change the name of the Atlantic and/or the Pacific. Maybe we'll change them both,' he said.