President Donald Trump has shared maps of New Mexico with the label "New America," following similar renaming attempts last weekend, including dubbing the Strait of Hormuz as "Trump Strait" and Lake Ontario as "Lake America." The move has prompted backlash from Democratic lawmakers in New Mexico, who argue that the state's name is not up for debate. This is the latest example of Trump's habit of renaming geographical locations after himself or America. A recent poll found that 63% of Americans oppose Trump's renaming of Lake Ontario.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
President Donald Trump has suggested renaming the state of New Mexico to "New America" in a series of social media posts. The proposal was met with swift rejection from the state's Governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, who stated that the name is not up for debate and has been used since before the United States existed. This is just the latest example of Trump's habit of renaming geographic features to reflect his own vision - he previously renamed the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America", Lake Ontario to "Lake America", and Mt. Denali back to Mt. McKinley. The move has been seen as a distraction from more pressing issues, such as soaring gas prices and the ongoing trade war with Canada. Trump's proposal originated on his Truth Social account, where he claimed that many people had suggested changing the name of New Mexico to "New America". The White House reposted an image showing the new name, but did not provide any explanation or indication that it reflected a actual policy proposal.
Written for “Trump Renames US Landmarks” on 2026-09-08,
grounded in this article and the 15 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
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The President’s social media rhetoric regarding New Mexico comes days after he floated renaming the vital trade passage the Strait of Hormuz as “Trump Strait.”
right the article describes Trump's actions as 'rhetoric' and implies they are inappropriate
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The change was met with widespread disapproval from both U.S. lawmakers and Canadian politicians, who vowed Lake Ontario will continue to be called by that name.
left the article describes the reaction as 'disapproval' and implies it is justified
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Lujan Grisham suggested that Trump’s renaming jibes were an attempt to “distract Americans from his disastrous war in Iran,” as well as the rising price of gas and other consumer goods.
left the article presents Lujan Grisham's criticism of Trump's motivations as a legitimate concern
Leaning score -0.55 for article 7123 (high confidence, 3 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-08
President Donald Trump appeared to float the idea of renaming New Mexico as “New America,” sharing several maps of the state that listed the new moniker.
asserted
that → appear → moniker
The images posted Monday, without context or comment, followed similar content from the weekend.
asserted
images → post → weekend
Trump on Sunday shared a "New America" map with his 13 million Truth Social followers, and the official White House account reposted the image.
asserted
account → share → image
Trump also posted an AI-generated video of himself slapping “America” over a road sign that had previously read “Welcome to New Mexico” and claimed that “many people” had suggested the name change.
uncertain
people → post → change
The White House has not announced any effort to rename New Mexico.
asserted
House → announce → Mexico
TIME has reached out for comment.
asserted
TIME → reach → comment
The rhetoric has prompted backlash from Democratic lawmakers representing the state.
asserted
rhetoric → prompt → state
“New Mexico’s name isn’t up for debate—it’s been ours since before the United States existed,” said the state’s Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
asserted
Grisham → exist → debate
“While the White House wastes time coloring on maps, Nuevo México is busy doing the work.”
asserted
México → waste → work
Lujan Grisham suggested that Trump’s renaming jibes were an attempt to “distract Americans from his disastrous war in Iran,” as well as the rising price of gas and other consumer goods.
uncertain
jibes → suggest → gas
Not up for sale,” said former Secretary of the Interior and candidate for state Governor Deb Haaland.
asserted
Haaland → say → Governor
“My promise: I’ll always stand up for what makes New Mexico, New Mexico.”
asserted
what → stand → ?
Trump's habit of renaming things—often after America or himself
The President’s social media rhetoric regarding New Mexico comes days after he floated renaming the vital trade passage the Strait of Hormuz as “Trump Strait.”
asserted
he → rename → Strait
It also follows Trump signing an Executive Order renaming Lake Ontario as “Lake America” on Aug. 27, amid a widening trade war with Canada.
asserted
Trump → follow → Canada
The order applies to U.S. federal references of the lake and does not determine how Canada—or others—refer to the body of water.
asserted
Canada → apply → water
U.S. users of Google Maps and Apple Maps, however, will notice the change reflected.
asserted
change → notice → Maps
The change was met with widespread disapproval from both U.S. lawmakers and Canadian politicians, who vowed Lake Ontario will continue to be called by that name.
asserted
Ontario → meet → name
An Ipsos/Reuters poll of the American general population, conducted Aug. 28-30, found that 63% of respondents opposed Trump's renaming of Lake Ontario.
asserted
% → conduct → Ontario
Trump has often turned to name changes as a show of power and a way to undermine his perceived adversaries.
asserted
Trump → turn → adversaries
After returning to the White House last year, Trump signed an Executive Order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”
asserted
Trump → return → America
The name has since been used by federal agencies and departments to refer to the sea south of the U.S.
The President has also put his stamp on Washington, D.C., renaming the Kennedy Center by adding his own surname to the title.
asserted
President → use → title
After much back-and-forth and legal complications, the Center’s board voted in August to reinstate Trump’s name on the building’s facade, testing a judge’s order from May that mandated its removal.
uncertain
that → vote → removal
Trump added his name to the U.S. Institute of Peace late last year, pointing towards his claim of ending a number of global conflicts since his return to the White House.
uncertain
Trump → add → House
Outside of renaming landmarks and buildings after himself, Trump has also faced backlash over a string of what Democratic lawmakers have referred to as “vanity projects” across D.C.
asserted
lawmakers → rename → D.C.
