AI Image
Trump pushes again for New Mexico renaming. He can’t do it
USA Today • • nation
Key Points:
- Former President Donald Trump has renewed his proposal for New Mexico to change its name to "New America," claiming it would increase state pride, home values, and incomes.
- Trump has previously sought to rename other U.S. geographic features and locations, such as the Gulf of Mexico and Mount McKinley, but renaming a state requires more complex legal processes.
- New Mexico's name dates back to the 1500s, originating from Spanish settlers, and has deep historical and cultural significance, a point emphasized by Democratic Senator Ben Ray Luján in opposition to Trump's suggestion.
- Both Democratic and Republican officials in New Mexico have dismissed the idea, noting that a state's name is established in its constitution and cannot be changed by presidential order.
- Legal experts clarify that while a president can rename federal geographic features, changing a state's name requires action by the state's government and constitutional amendment, making Trump's proposal legally unfeasible.
