Trump’s call to rename New Mexico ‘New America’ is a distraction tactic, Democrats say

Amid unpopular Iran war and persistent inflation, governor says state has had its name since before US existed Democrats have hit back against Donald Trump’s suggestion that the state of New Mexico should be renamed “New America”, accusing the US president of trying to distract from his war on Iran and rising prices. The administration moved to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” hours after Trump’s return to office in January 2025. In August, as trade tensions escalated between the US and Canada, it moved to do the same with Lake Ontario, moving to rename it as “Lake America”. Continue reading...

Shrai Popat in Washington · Tue, Sep 8, 2026, 7:59 AM
US news | The Guardian

Trump’s call to rename New Mexico ‘New America’ is a distraction tactic, Democrats say

Amid unpopular Iran war and persistent inflation, governor says state has had its name since before US existed

Democrats have hit back against Donald Trump’s suggestion that the state of New Mexico should be renamed “New America”, accusing the US president of trying to distract from his war on Iran and rising prices.

The administration moved to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” hours after Trump’s return to office in January 2025. In August, as trade tensions escalated between the US and Canada, it moved to do the same with Lake Ontario, moving to rename it as “Lake America”.

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