Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Trump's Geographic Renaming Push Faces Legal Limits Across America
Donald Trump has suggested changing the names of several important places.
His newest idea is to call New Mexico “New America.”
However, New Mexico’s official name is protected by the state constitution.
The state legislature and voters would have to approve a change.
Trump has more power over names used by the federal government.
His administration changed federal references from Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America.
It also restored the name Mount McKinley for Alaska’s highest mountain.
In August 2026, US references to Lake Ontario were changed to Lake America.
These changes do not force states, other countries, or every private company to use the new names.
Donald Trump proposed renaming New Mexico “New America,” but the federal government cannot change a state’s official name.
New Mexico’s constitution requires approval by the state legislature and voters for any name change.
Trump’s administration directed federal references to use “Gulf of America” instead of Gulf of Mexico.
A January 2025 order also reinstated “Mount McKinley” for Alaska’s highest peak while retaining Denali National Park’s name.
In August 2026, Trump directed US federal references to Lake Ontario as “Lake America,” but Canada and private organizations were not required to follow it.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump and his administration; New Mexico officials, lawmakers, residents, and voters are affected by the proposal.
- What
- Trump proposed renaming New Mexico “New America” and has pursued several other geographic name changes in US federal usage.
- When
- The Gulf of Mexico and Denali changes were ordered on January 20, 2025; the Lake Ontario reference changed in August 2026; the New Mexico proposal was reported on September 7.
- Where
- New Mexico, the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska’s highest mountain, and Lake Ontario.
- Why
- Trump said “New America” would be more prestigious and beautiful; the other changes were linked to federal naming authority and, in the Lake Ontario case, trade tensions with Canada.
Trump and Federal Renaming
State and Local Opponents
Reason for renaming New Mexico
Trump and Federal Renaming
Trump said “New America” would be more prestigious and beautiful, and he promoted the idea as trade negotiations with Mexico intensified.
State and Local Opponents
New Mexico officials and residents rejected the proposal, arguing that “New Mexico” is historic and has been used for more than 450 years.
Legal authority
Trump and Federal Renaming
Trump can direct federal agencies to use different geographic names in federal documents and systems.
State and Local Opponents
The federal government cannot officially rename New Mexico because its name is written into the state constitution; a change requires legislative and voter approval.
Limits of federal names
Trump and Federal Renaming
The United States can change names used in its own geographic systems, including references to the Gulf of Mexico, Mount McKinley, and Lake America.
State and Local Opponents
Federal changes do not compel Canada, other countries, states, or every private organization to adopt the new names.
- Proposed state name
- New America
- Current state name
- New Mexico
- State constitutional requirement
- A constitutional amendment must be approved by the New Mexico Legislature and voters.
- Gulf renaming order
- Executive Order 14172, signed January 20, 2025, directed federal agencies to use “Gulf of America.”
- Mountain renaming
- Federal references changed from Denali to Mount McKinley, while the surrounding national park retained the name Denali National Park and Preserve.
- Lake Ontario reference
- US federal references changed to “Lake America” in August 2026.
- New Mexico Hispanic and Latino population
- About 49% of the state’s population, according to the article.