Gregg Hull, Republican candidate for governor in New Mexico, balked at President Donald Trump's push to rename the state as "New America."
In a post to Truth Social earlier on Monday, the president said, "New Mexico should immediately change its name to New America. We are not Mexico, we are the United States of America!" He said the name change would add great "value and prestige," adding that incomes and home values would rise.
"Maybe even the Crooked Elections, that New Mexico is known for, would become honest again!" Trump said.
Hull responded to the president's idea in a post to X on Monday night, saying in part that he stands by his original statement that "New Mexico does not need a new name."
This is not the first time the president has floated the idea. In September, he posted a picture depicting the state with Mexico crossed out and America written below. During his time in office, the president has also rebranded the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and Lake Ontario to Lake America. He has also floated renaming the Strait of Hormuz as the "Trump Strait" amid the country's ongoing war with Iran.
When reached about Hull's remarks, the White House referred Newsweek to the president's comments.
What To Know
Hull added in his post on X that the state's identity is rooted in rich culture, beautiful landscape and the resilience of its people. "That identity is never up for negotiation. EVER," Hull said.
He added that the people of New Mexico are focused on good-paying jobs, taxes and an economy that works for families, energy independence and relief from rising costs. "That is where my focus is, and that is what the campaign is about," Hull concluded.
Midterm elections are commonly viewed as a test of the political environment facing the party in power, and the president's party has historically lost seats during them. Trump lost New Mexico during the 2024 presidential election to then-Vice President Kamala Harris by roughly 6 percent.
Trump's overall approval rating and ranking on specific policy issues like the economy, immigration, jobs and the ongoing war in Iran have slipped as households across America are consistently flagging affordability concerns.
Gas prices in New Mexico, meanwhile, are above the national average, according to AAA. On Monday, a gallon of regular gasoline there cost $4.3465 compared to the national average of $4.2953.
Last month, an article in the Albuquerque Journal ripped into the president's proposal of renaming the state, calling it, "so elementary and such low-hanging fruit, the biggest surprise was that it took so long for him to make it." In the op-ed by journalist Ryan Boetel he continued, saying, "My advice: Don't waste your breath," he said. "When immature people get frustrated, there's a tried and tired tactic of acting more and more obnoxious to get a rise out of someone to bring them down to their level."
MapQuest, which recently defied Trump on his renaming of Lake Ontario, reacted to the moment on X Monday, saying, "Hey, boo. @NewMexico"
New Mexico Lawmakers React to Trump's Proposal
Senator Ben Ray Lujan, a Democrat, said that New Mexico's name carries history and will remain intact long after Trump is out of office.
"New Mexico’s name dates back hundreds of years, long before the United States even existed. It carries generations of history, culture, and rich traditions that continue to shape who we are. We are New Mexicans. We’re proud of our name, proud of our home, and we’re keeping both. Long after Donald Trump is out of office, we’ll still be New Mexico," Lujan said on X Monday.
Democratic Governor Michelle Grisham reacted on X, saying, "This tired New America bit again?"
"You have to ask — what policy failure is Trump trying to distract Americans from this time? Let me repeat: New Mexico was New Mexico long before the United States existed and we’ll be New Mexico forevermore," she continued on Monday. "And while we’re talking about our great state, Americans should also know we’ve been busy delivering universal, no cost child care. We’re also the only state that fully replaced health care subsidies that were gutted by Trump and congressional Republicans. Independent experts say our elections are among the most secure in the nation. It’s just that Trump can’t seem to accept that voters are rewarding Democrats for policies that make life easier for working families. ¡Viva Nuevo Mexico!"
Newsweek reached out to the Republican Party of New Mexico via email for comment.
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