President Donald Trump has reignited a surprising debate after calling for New Mexico to change its name to “New America.” The proposal appeared in a series of posts on his social media platform, Truth Social, and has drawn criticism from political leaders in the state.

On October 19, 2026, Trump reiterated his position, arguing that the state should no longer carry a name associated with Mexico. He claimed that adopting the name “New America” would give the state greater value and prestige.

This was not the first time Trump had raised the idea. In September, he shared posts suggesting the name change, including imagery depicting “Mexico” crossed out and replaced with “America.” The posts were part of a broader pattern of his efforts to give American names to geographical locations, including his previous moves involving the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario.

However, there is a major obstacle to Trump’s proposal: he cannot simply rename an entire state by issuing a presidential order.

New Mexico’s official name is written into its state constitution. Changing it would require a constitutional amendment through the state’s own legal process, including approval by lawmakers and voters. A presidential announcement alone would not accomplish that.

The proposal has also faced opposition from New Mexico’s Democratic governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, and other state politicians, who have defended the state’s historic name and cultural identity. Even a Republican congressional candidate in the state has questioned the feasibility of the idea.

New Mexico’s name has deep historical roots, dating back centuries before the modern United States was established. The state officially joined the Union on January 6, 1912.

For now, the state remains New Mexico. Trump’s comments have sparked debate, but there is no official name change in effect.

Would you support changing New Mexico’s name to “New America,” or should the state keep its historic identity?