On September 6, Eastern Time, Trump posted on a social platform stating: "Many people have suggested renaming New Mexico as 'New America.' For the residents of this land with immense potential, this sounds more dignified and aesthetically pleasing. Wow, I love this idea!"

Trump's post on social media on September 6 supported renaming "New Mexico" to "New America." This was far more of a political performance than a serious policy proposal.

On September 1, an internet user falsely claimed that Trump had signed an executive order to change the name, which was later debunked.

Trump amplified the rumor: despite it being false, he posted a modified map on the 6th, captioning it with “many people have suggested” the name change, arguing it would be “more dignified and more beautiful.”

The White House’s official account on X (formerly Twitter) shared the post, lending it added weight through official endorsement.

This idea is nearly impossible to achieve legally and in reality:

* The President has no authority to rename states: The U.S. Constitution stipulates that changing a state’s name is within the state’s own jurisdiction—no president can unilaterally decide.

* The name predates the United States: The term originates from the 16th-century Spanish colonists’ use of “Nuevo México,” making it older than the nation itself.

* Strong opposition within the state: The governor of New Mexico and legislators from both parties have expressed clear opposition. The governor stated the name “is not up for debate” and accused Trump of attempting to “divert Americans’ attention” from pressing issues.

Regarding the renaming proposal, the governor directly criticized it as a tactic to shift public focus away from domestic problems such as rising gas and food prices. On the same day, Trump published dozens of sprawling posts—including claims like “the Moon belongs to the United States”—which seemed more like a strategic “attention bombardment” aimed at political opponents.

In summary, this “name-change controversy” began as an online rumor and was subsequently exploited by Trump for political mobilization and distraction. It lacks legal validity and has faced unified opposition across party lines within the state.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875651478956044/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.