Trump suggests renaming New Mexico state ‘New America’
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US President Donald Trump’s proposal to change the name of New Mexico to “New America” comes days after he signed an order to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America”.
PHOTO: EPA
- President Trump suggested renaming New Mexico to "New America," a proposal dismissed by the state governor as a distraction from other issues.
- Trump has a pattern of renaming geographic locations, including Lake Ontario as "Lake America" and the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America," both rejected by neighbours.
- The renaming ideas have sparked criticism, with officials from New Mexico, Canada, and Mexico rejecting the changes and calling them inappropriate.
AI generated
WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump’s name-changing spree found an unlikely new target on Sept 6 when he suggested that the state of New Mexico could become “New America”.
His proposal, which was immediately dismissed by the state’s governor, comes days after he signed an order to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America” in the middle of a trade war with neighbouring Canada.
“Many people suggested changing the name of New Mexico... to NEW AMERICA,” the Republican president posted on social media. “So much more prestigious and beautiful for the people of that potentially incredible state. Wow, I love it!!!”
The White House reposted an image showing the Mexico part of the state’s name crossed out and replaced with “America”.
Some US media reports said the idea originated as an internet hoax.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham told Fox News that the name “isn’t up for debate – it’s been ours since before the United States existed”.
She said the President wanted to “distract Americans” from issues such as soaring gas prices.
Trump last week suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz as “Trump Strait” as the war with Iran continues – then hours later implied he was not serious about the plan.
He renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” on his first day back in the White House in 2025 in a move rejected by Mexico.
Canada has also rejected the attempt to rename Lake Ontario. AFP
