Donald Trump has apparently decided that one of America’s 50 states needs a new identity — and he thinks changing its name could somehow make people richer.
In a bizarre Truth Social post on Monday, the president demanded that New Mexico be renamed “New America,” insisting that the change would boost property values, increase incomes, and even help fix what he called the state’s “crooked elections.”
Yes, really.
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
The president offered no evidence that changing a state’s name would increase anyone’s income or property value. Nor did he provide evidence to support his sweeping allegation about New Mexico’s elections.
But this wasn’t a one-time outburst.
In September, Trump posted an altered map of New Mexico with “Mexico” crossed out and replaced by “America.” He also described the state as one of the country’s worst offenders when it comes to election cheating, again without substantiating the accusation.
Earlier this month, Trump revived the proposal in a video endorsing Republican congressional candidate Greg Cunningham, who is challenging Democratic Rep. Gabe Vasquez.
“Hello, New America — formerly known as New Mexico,” Trump announced.
He then claimed the change would be beautiful, while insisting he wasn’t trying to force it on residents.
“I’m not gonna push it,” Trump said, adding that “a lot of people are liking it a lot.”
His latest post, however, was considerably more forceful, demanding that the state change its name “immediately.”
New Mexico’s Democratic leaders have made their position clear.
Sen. Ben Ray Luján rejected the proposal Monday, pointing out that the state’s name carries centuries of history and predates the United States itself.
“We are New Mexicans. We’re proud of our name, proud of our home, and we’re keeping both,” Luján said.
He added that New Mexico would retain its identity long after Trump left office.
And there’s a rather important obstacle to the president’s plan: Trump cannot simply rename a state by presidential decree.
New Mexico would have to go through its own legal process to change its name. The president’s enthusiasm is not enough.
The latest demand follows Trump’s earlier efforts to rename geographic landmarks, including his administration’s adoption of “Gulf of America” for the Gulf of Mexico and “Lake America” for Lake Ontario.
He has even floated the possibility of renaming the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean.
But New Mexico is not a federal landmark. It is a state with its own constitution, government, history, and residents — none of whom are obligated to accept a new name because the president dislikes the word “Mexico.”
For a White House that regularly talks about affordability, Trump’s claim that a simple name change would make homes more valuable and residents wealthier is particularly striking.
There was no economic proposal attached to the announcement. No plan to raise wages. No housing initiative.
Just a demand to replace one word with another — and another unsupported attack on American elections.
New Mexico’s Democratic leaders, meanwhile, have a much simpler message for the president: The state already has a name, and it intends to keep it.
About the Author
Tovarishch Trump needs to be removed immediately.