Days after signing an executive order to rename Lake Ontario as "Lake America," President Donald Trump posted a picture of New Mexico with the new moniker on Sunday, seemingly suggesting that the state should be dubbed "New America."

The White House reshared the image from Truth Social on X, which depicts the state's outline with the word "Mexico" struck out in red and replaced with "America." The picture was shown without an explanation. No attempt to rename New Mexico has been made public by the White House. CNN has inquired about further information.

Although Trump has the authority to change the names of geographical landmarks, such bodies of water, in the Geographic Names Information System, he lacks the constitutional authority to formally rename states; that procedure must take place within the state.

In January 2025, on his first day back in office, Trump issued an executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, in addition to renaming Lake Ontario in the system late last month.

The Democrat governor of New Mexico, Michelle Lujan Grisham, responded to the tweet by claiming that "New Mexico's name isn't up for debate" and accusing Trump of attempting to divert Americans.

"Gas prices continue to soar while the President tries to divert Americans from his disastrous war in Iran," she stated on X on Sunday. "Nuevo México is busy doing the work while the White House wastes time coloring on maps."

Sen. Martin Heinrich, a Democrat, also criticized Trump's post. He stated on X, "I will always refer to these three things by their true names." Lake Ontario and the Gulf of Mexico. New Mexico

According to a Bureau of Indian Affairs information page on the origin of state names, the state's name dates back to the 16th century, before the United States was founded.

In an attempt to demonstrate his presidential authority, Trump has often declared his intention to rename historical sites. In the midst of a heated trade dispute with Canada, he decided to rename Lake Ontario.

He also hinted at his plans to rename one of the oceans on either side of the United States shortly after he signed that executive order.

"We have a lake and a gulf. An ocean is all we need now. Thus, it may be necessary to rename the Atlantic and/or Pacific. "Perhaps we should alter both of them," he remarked.