New Mexico Democrats denounce Trump's posts proposing to rename the state

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham responded on X to President Donald Trump’s series of images that labeled New Mexico as “New America,” asserting that the state’s name has been established since before the United States existed. She added that the administration’s focus on the name change distracts from rising gas prices and other economic pressures, while Democratic leadership in the state is providing free childcare, college tuition, health-care access and housing investment.

Former Interior Secretary and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland posted a video on X stating she will “always stand up for what makes New Mexico, New Mexico,” and contrasted her campaign for governor with Trump’s “New America” branding.

Trump’s posts on Truth Social featured AI-generated images of a “New America” sign replacing a “Welcome to New Mexico” sign and included a caption praising the proposed name change. The president has previously used social media to suggest renaming other geographic features, such as Lake Ontario and the Gulf of Mexico, and has signed executive orders to rename landmarks during his prior term.

Legal experts note that a state’s name is set by its constitution; any change would require a voter-approved amendment. Both of New Mexico’s Democratic U.S. senators, Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján, reiterated that the official name remains New Mexico. Representative Melanie Stansbury also condemned the proposal, emphasizing the historical and cultural significance of the state’s name.