US President Donald Trump has suggested renaming the state of New Mexico to “New America,” a proposal that has been swiftly rejected by the state’s governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Trump made the suggestion in a post on social media, saying he had received recommendations to change the name of New Mexico to “New America.”

“Many people suggested changing the name of New Mexico… to NEW AMERICA,” Trump wrote. He described the proposed name as “much more prestigious and beautiful” for what he called a potentially incredible state, adding, “Wow, I Love It!!!”

The White House subsequently amplified the idea by reposting an image in which the word “Mexico” in New Mexico was crossed out and replaced with “America.”

However, the proposal was quickly dismissed by Governor Lujan Grisham, who told Fox News that the name of the state was not open for discussion.

The governor pointed out that New Mexico’s name predates the existence of the United States, saying, “It’s been ours since before the United States existed.”

She also accused Trump of attempting to divert public attention from domestic concerns, including rising fuel prices.

The suggestion comes amid a series of controversial naming proposals and changes associated with the Trump administration.

Just days earlier, Trump signed an order seeking to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America,” a move that has been rejected by Canada. The proposal comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Ottawa over trade.

Trump has also previously suggested changing the name of the Strait of Hormuz to “Trump Strait” as the conflict involving Iran continues. Hours after making the suggestion, however, he appeared to indicate that he was not being entirely serious about the idea.

The president also ordered the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” shortly after returning to the White House in 2025. Mexico rejected the move, while the name change has continued to generate controversy.