Trump's plan to rebrand New Mexico backfires at his convention
An attendee displays a sign during the Republican National Midterm Convention in Dallas, Texas, U.S., September 9, 2026. REUTERS/Jessica Koscielniak
September 09, 2026
An attendee displays a sign during the Republican National Midterm Convention in Dallas, Texas, U.S., September 9, 2026. REUTERS/Jessica Koscielniak
President Donald Trump's convention in Dallas is an extended celebration of himself — but even there, he wasn't immune to one particular snub.
According to the Patriot Takes account on X, the delegation from New Mexico was conspicuously missing something: the name change for their state that Trump keeps casually trying to push. The sign for their delegates still carried the words "New Mexico."
"It looks like the GOP 'New Mexico' delegation is refusing to use Trump’s ridiculous 'New America' name for their state," said the post.
Over the weekend, Trump pushed his idea to change the name of New Mexico, which has been named after the core lands of the Aztec Empire long before the country of Mexico even gained its independence from Spain.
“Many people suggested changing the name of New Mexico, one of the great vote-cheating states of all time, to NEW AMERICA,” said Trump on his Truth Social platform. “So much more prestigious and beautiful for the people of that potentially incredible State. Wow, I Love It!!!”
It's the latest in a series of declarations Trump has made trying to rename things. When he took office for his second term, he proclaimed the Gulf of Mexico to be renamed the "Gulf of America." More recently, he gave the same treatment to Lake Ontario amid his latest trade dispute with Canada. Controversially, multiple tech companies have actually changed place names on maps to reflect Trump's orders, despite there being no legal requirement to do so.