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PBS News Hour – Politics — 2026-09-07 17:45:00 — www.pbs.org
President Trump Proposes Renaming New Mexico to “New America” Despite Lacking Legal Authority
President Trump has sparked controversy with his latest online campaign, in which he repeatedly posted about changing the name of the state of New Mexico to “New America.” According to the news wrap, Trump published at least seven different versions of maps on social media reflecting this proposed name change. He also shared an A.I.-generated video depicting himself replacing the word “Mexico” with “America” on a road sign.
However, Trump has no legal authority to rename any state. In the case of New Mexico, the state’s name is enshrined in its Constitution, making such a change impossible without significant legal and legislative action. New Mexico’s Democratic governor responded to Trump’s proposal, stating that the name “isn’t up for debate.”
This episode highlights a pattern in Trump’s public statements, where he makes sweeping proposals or claims that do not align with established legal or constitutional realities. The repeated social media posts and use of manipulated imagery further amplify misinformation, potentially misleading the public about the president’s powers and the process required to alter state names.
In summary, President Trump’s push to rename New Mexico is not only without legal basis but also contradicts the state’s constitutional protections. The swift response from New Mexico’s governor underscores the lack of legitimacy behind the proposal and serves as a reminder of the importance of fact-checking presidential statements.