Donald Trump has sparked a new political controversy after suggesting that the US state of New Mexico should be renamed “New America.”

In a social media post, Trump said he had received suggestions to change the state's name and described “New America” as a more prestigious name for what he called a potentially incredible state.

The White House subsequently amplified the idea by reposting an image depicting New Mexico with the word “Mexico” crossed out and replaced by “America.”

Governor Quickly Rejects Proposal

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham immediately pushed back against Trump's suggestion.

She said the state's name was not open for debate and pointed to its long history, noting that the name predates the existence of the United States.

The governor also accused Trump of attempting to divert public attention from more pressing issues, including rising fuel prices.

No Formal Renaming Process

Despite the attention surrounding Trump's post, New Mexico has not been renamed.

Unlike certain federal geographic names, changing the official name of a US state would require a formal constitutional and legislative process. The president does not have the authority to rename a state through an executive order alone.

Trump and the White House have not announced any formal initiative to change New Mexico's official name.

Proposal Followed Earlier Name Changes

Trump's latest suggestion comes amid a series of controversial geographic renaming efforts.

Earlier, his administration moved to use “Gulf of America” instead of Gulf of Mexico for US federal purposes. More recently, an executive order sought to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America.” Both moves have faced opposition outside the United States.

Trump also recently floated the idea of calling the Strait of Hormuz “Trump Strait”, although he later indicated that proposal was not necessarily serious.

Why the Name New Mexico Matters

The name “New Mexico” has a history stretching back centuries. Spanish explorers used the name “Nuevo México” long before the modern US state was established.

The territory retained the name after becoming part of the United States and eventually became the 47th US state in 1912.

State officials and lawmakers argue that the name represents generations of history, culture and family identity.

Officials Push Back

Several New Mexico politicians criticised Trump's suggestion.

Democratic lawmakers said the state's name and cultural identity should not be erased or changed through a social media post. Governor Lujan Grisham similarly maintained that the name was not subject to debate.

For now, Trump's “New America” proposal remains a political and social-media suggestion rather than an official government policy.