Pushback after Donald Trump argues to rename US state
The governor of a US state has hit back after Donald Trump posted a series of maps on Truth Social pushing for a name change.
In less than 24 hours, Trump posted eight posts on his social media app renaming New Mexico New America.
President Donald Trump is pushing to rename New Mexico. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
"Many people suggested changing the name of New Mexico, one of the great vote cheating states of all time, to NEW AMERICA," the president wrote.
"So much more prestigious and beautiful for the people of that potentially incredible State. Wow, I Love It!!!"
Among his posts are a series of maps with the state renamed.
It comes following Trump ordering the renaming of Lake Ontario to Lake America, and the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
While a president can direct the administration to rename geographic features, he cannot change the name of a state.
Trump has received pushback from politicians in the state, including Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.
“New Mexico’s name isn’t up for debate – it’s been ours since before the United States existed. What is up for debate? Who’s showing up for working families,” said the governor.
"While the President tries to distract Americans from his disastrous war in Iran, gas prices keep soaring. Americans are also spending more at the grocery store, losing access to health care and wondering if they’ll ever be able to afford a home.
“Under Democratic leadership here in New Mexico, we’re providing families with free childcare and college, protecting access to health care and investing in housing. While the White House wastes time colouring on maps, Nuevo México is busy doing the work.”
Trump has recently focused on renaming New Mexico as New America. Truth Social
New Mexico typically votes for Democrats over Republicans, but it is not the most progressive state.
The Republican running to replace Lujan Grisham also rejected Trump's suggestion.
“New Mexico does not need a new name,” Gregg Hull said.
“This state carries the history of Native nations and Spanish explorers who named this land nearly five hundred years ago, and generations of families who built New Mexico into what it is today. That identity is not up for negotiation.”
New Mexico was first given that name in 1581, hundreds of years before the United States came into existence.
“It’s New Mexico, always has been and always will be,” Senator Ben Ray Lujan said in a X post directed at Trump.
“Just like how you’ll always be a sinvergüenza (scoundrel) and corrupt.”
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has pushed back against Donald Trump’s proposed name change. AP
One of America's larger states, New Mexico is located on the border with Mexico.
Since the beginning of the US, no state has changed its name.
Such a move would likely require a constitutional amendment in most states followed by a referendum.
A president would have no power to force a change.
The closest any state came was a push to drop the word North from North Dakota.
Advocates of that name change believed the word North had connotations of cold weather, believing it was bad for tourism. The state has the coldest weather in the US outside of Alaska.
The North Dakota legislature rejected several attempts at the name change.
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