New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) fired back at President Trump on Sunday after he posted a map on social media labeling her state as “New America.” The governor dismissed the stunt as a distraction from pressing national problems, asserting that the state’s name is not open to negotiation.
“New Mexico’s name isn’t up for debate — it’s been ours since before the United States existed. What is up for debate? Who’s showing up for working families,” Lujan Grisham wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
The president’s post came after a debunked online rumor claimed he had signed an executive order to rename the state. Trump shared the map on Truth Social, overlaying a large “X” across “Mexico” and adding the word “America” below. The official White House account also posted the image on X.
Lujan Grisham used the moment to highlight Democratic governance in her state. “Under Democratic leadership here in New Mexico, we’re providing families with free childcare and college, protecting access to health care and investing in housing. While the White House wastes time coloring on maps, Nuevo México is busy doing the work,” she said.
She also took aim at the administration’s record, pointing to rising gas prices, higher grocery costs, and challenges in health care and housing affordability. “While the President tries to distract Americans from his disastrous war in Iran, gas prices keep soaring. Americans are also spending more at the grocery store, losing access to health care and wondering if they’ll ever be able to afford a home,” the governor added.
Trump later defended the idea on Truth Social, writing that “many people suggested changing the name of New Mexico, one of the great vote cheating states of all time, to NEW AMERICA.” He called the proposed name “so much more prestigious and beautiful” and added, “Wow, I Love It!!!”
The episode follows Trump’s recent executive order renaming Lake Ontario — which shares its name with a Canadian province — to “Lake America,” a move tied to ongoing trade friction with Canada. That decision has drawn criticism from Canadian officials and some U.S. lawmakers.
Political observers note that the governor’s sharp response could bolster her profile as a potential contender in future national races. New Mexico’s governor has been mentioned among possible 2028 Democratic hopefuls, and her willingness to confront Trump directly may resonate with party activists.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.
