US state of New Mexico becomes latest target of Trump's name-changing spree

The US state of New Mexico has become the latest location targeted by former President Donald Trump's controversial name-changing campaign. On Sunday, Trump proposed renaming New Mexico to "New America," a suggestion he later described as "prestigious and beautiful" for the state's residents. The idea was immediately dismissed by New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who stated that the name has been in use since before the United States existed and that it would be "distracting" for Americans to focus on other issues like rising gas prices.

The proposal came days after Trump signed an order renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America" amid a trade dispute with Canada. The White House shared a graphic depicting the word "Mexico" crossed out and replaced with "America," suggesting approval of the name change. However, some media reports claimed that the concept originated as an internet hoax.

Trump has been known to alter geographical names in the past, including renaming the Strait of Hormuz to "Trump Strait" during the ongoing Iran conflict and initially renaming the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America" upon his return to the White House. These actions have been met with vehement rejection from the affected countries. Canada, in particular, has strongly objected to the renaming of Lake Ontario.