New Mexico GOP Governor Candidate Rejects Trump's 'New America' Push
President Donald Trump is once again pushing for New Mexico to change its name to "New America," and this time even the Republican running for governor of the state is telling him no.
"New Mexico should immediately change its name to New America. We are not Mexico, we are the United States of America!" Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Monday, according to Fox News.
The idea drew quick pushback from leaders in both parties, just two weeks before Election Day.
What Trump Said
In his post, Trump argued that the new name "would add great value and prestige to the State!" He also claimed that "Home Values and Incomes would rise, and you would be even prouder while saluting our beautiful American Flag!"
He then took a shot at the state's voting system. "Maybe even the Crooked Elections, that New Mexico is known for, would become honest again!" he wrote, Mediaite reported. Trump did not offer evidence for his claims about home values, incomes or elections.
This is not the first time Trump has floated the idea. In September, he shared a map of New Mexico with "Mexico" crossed out and "America" written in its place. In an Oct. 3 video endorsing a House candidate in the state, he opened with, "Hello New America, formerly known as New Mexico," though he added that the decision was "up to you" and that he was "not going to push it."
The Republican Candidate Says No
Gregg Hull, the Republican nominee for governor, rejected the proposal outright. In a post on X, he said "New Mexico does not need a new name" and that the state's identity is "never up for negotiation. EVER," Newsweek reported.
Hull said his campaign is staying focused on jobs, taxes, the economy, energy and rising costs.
Democrats Push Back Too
Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham called it a "tired New America bit" and wrote that "New Mexico was New Mexico long before the United States existed," KOB 4 reported. She also asked what policy failure Trump was trying to distract from.
Sen. Ben Ray Luján agreed. "Long after Donald Trump is out of office, we'll still be New Mexico," he said.
Deb Haaland, the Democratic nominee for governor, reminded Trump that "you lost here three times" and urged him to focus on ending the war, stopping tariffs and lowering costs. Trump lost New Mexico to Kamala Harris in 2024 by about 6 points.
Daniel Garcia, a spokesperson for the Democratic Party of New Mexico, said Republicans who downplay the idea are "too MAGA and cowardly" to disagree with Trump. He called the posts a distraction from rising prices and health care costs.
Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver also responded to the election claim, saying Trump "must stop insulting the intelligence of this state's voters." She pointed to the state's paper ballots and post-election audits.
Could the Name Actually Change?
Not easily. Article I of New Mexico's state constitution sets the state's name as New Mexico, and Trump's post did not lay out any formal process for changing it.
The push is the latest in a string of renaming efforts. Trump already renamed the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America for federal use, and in August he signed an order renaming Lake Ontario "Lake America." Earlier this month, he also floated renaming the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
The idea has drawn plenty of eye rolls online, too. MapQuest jumped in on X with a playful "Hey, boo. @NewMexico," and an Albuquerque Journal op-ed criticized the proposal last month. The White House referred Newsweek to Trump's comments when asked for more details.
Early voting in New Mexico runs through Oct. 31, and Election Day is Nov. 3.
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