Trump Says New Mexico Should 'Immediately' Rename Itself 'New America'

President Donald Trump said Monday that New Mexico should change its name to "New America." He posted at 3:06 p.m. ET on Truth Social:

Post: Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) on Truth Social, Oct. 19, 2026, 3:06 p.m. ET.

"New Mexico should immediately change its name to New America. We are not Mexico, we are the United States of America! The name would add great value and prestige to the State! Home Values and Incomes would rise, and you would be even prouder while saluting our beautiful American Flag! Maybe even the Crooked Elections, that New Mexico is known for, would become honest again! President DONALD J. TRUMP"

Not the first time. The President raised the idea in early September. On Sept. 6, the White House's official X account shared an image of his Truth Social post showing a map of New Mexico with a red X over the state's name and "America" written below:

Post: The White House (@WhiteHouse) on X, Sept. 6, 2026, 1:51 p.m. ET.

What a name change would take. The state's name is written into the first line of the New Mexico Constitution: "The name of this state is New Mexico," according to Article I of the constitution published by the Secretary of State. Under Article XIX, an amendment may be proposed in either house of the Legislature at a regular session and must win "a majority of all members elected to each of the two houses voting separately." It then goes to voters at the next regular election, or at a special election held at least six months after the Legislature adjourns, and becomes part of the constitution if "ratified by a majority of the electors voting on the amendment."

New Mexico lawmakers have considered a name change before. In 2001, state Rep. Miguel P. García introduced House Joint Resolution 8 to rename the state "Nuevo Mexico." The resolution died after it was postponed indefinitely in committee. The Legislature's fiscal impact report on that bill said a change would affect maps, textbooks and addresses nationwide. It also noted that the state was admitted to the Union in 1912 "under the name 'New Mexico,'" and said that history "raises the interesting question of whether New Mexico acquired its name under the state's constitution or by the act of Congress admitting it as a state." The report's analyst concluded the state "probably has the authority to change its own name." Radio Purple found no federal law that sets out a process for renaming a state, so whether Congress would play any role is untested.

Where the name comes from. The same legislative report says the name Nuevo México "was given by Spanish explorers who led expeditions into the area in the late 16th century," beginning with the Chamuscado-Rodríguez expedition of 1581. Santa Fe became the capital of the Spanish province of Nuevo México about 1610, according to the National Park Service, which dates the Spanish period to 1821 and the Mexican period that followed to 1846. The name was in use for more than two centuries before New Mexico came under Mexican rule.

The elections claim. The President's post says New Mexico is "known for" "Crooked Elections." The New Mexico Secretary of State's office says results are canvassed at the county level, canvassed again by a separate team at the state level and then audited by an independent contractor before the State Canvassing Board makes them official. The state also conducts a risk-limiting audit after every statewide election, hand-counting randomly selected races and precincts and comparing the hand count with the machine count. The office publishes the certified state canvass for the 2024 general election.