On Sunday, Donald Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to share a map depicting the state of New Mexico with the word "Mexico" crossed out and replaced with "America" in red, suggesting a potential name change to "New America."
This message was posted at 1:48 PM Eastern Time, amidst a series of Trump's characteristically bold and imaginative posts. These included AI-generated images of Trump riding a horse alongside George Washington, both seated in the Oval Office, a soldier from a fictional "American Space Force," and a map of Iran with Trump's head superimposed over it.
It remains unclear if this post was intended as a Sunday humor—something Trump is known for—or if it hints at a possible future action.
The most recent precedent was Trump's decree on August 27th, which aimed to rename Lake Ontario as "Lake America," a move interpreted as a pressure tactic in the ongoing trade dispute with Canada. Following this, Google Maps and Apple Maps implemented the name change for users within the United States, although in Canada, the lake retained its original name.
The Renaming Ambitions of Donald Trump
Trump's fascination with renaming geographic locations began on the first day of his second presidency, when he signed Executive Order 14172, which designated the "Gulf of America" in federal documents and restored "Mount McKinley" as the name for Denali.
Since then, Trump has suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz, shared modified maps showing Venezuela as a potential 51st state, and proposed the incorporation of Canada and Greenland as new states of the Union.
Historically, the region that is now New Mexico became part of the United States in 1848 following the Mexican-American War, and it was admitted as the 47th state in 1912. It is the fifth-largest state in the country by area.
Legally speaking, altering a state's name is a significantly more complex process compared to changing the name of a body of water. While a president can mandate the use of a geographical name in federal documents through an executive order, officially changing a state's name would require legislative action at both the state and federal levels, which is entirely beyond the unilateral power of the Executive Branch.
In August, a legal analysis on the blog Dorf on Law had already speculated on the possibility of Trump attempting such a provocation with New Mexico.
Legal Implications of Renaming a State
What are the legal requirements to rename a state in the US?
Renaming a state requires legislative approval at both the state and federal levels. It cannot be done unilaterally by the president through an executive order.
Has Trump attempted to rename other geographic locations?
Yes, Trump has previously attempted to rename Lake Ontario and the Gulf of Mexico, among others, through executive orders and public suggestions.
Why did Trump propose renaming New Mexico?
The proposal aligns with Trump's ongoing pattern of renaming geographic locations, though it is unclear whether it is meant as a serious proposal or a humorous suggestion.