A new episode in the renaming saga: Trump targets the name of a U.S. state

Washington, Agencies: U.S. President Donald Trump ignited a wide wave of controversy in political and media circles and on social media platforms after he posted yesterday on his “Truth Social” platform a map showing the state of “New Mexico” with the name “Mexico” crossed out and replaced with the word “America.” Trump also shared a video showing him crossing out the name “Mexico” by hand and replacing it with the word “America,” accompanying it with a comment in which he said: “Many people have suggested changing the name of ‘New Mexico,’ one of the most vote-rigged states in history, to ‘New America.’” He added that this name is much more luxurious and beautiful for the residents of this state, which has the potential to be absolutely wonderful. “How wonderful, I really liked the idea! President Donald J. Trump.” The White House account on the “X” platform reposted the map, which surpassed 5 million views within hours, sparking widespread reactions and sharp criticism across digital platforms. The state’s governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, was among the first to comment on the incident, writing on her “X” account: “The name New Mexico is not up for debate; it has been ours since before the founding of the United States. What is truly up for debate is who stands up for working families. While the president tries to distract Americans from his disastrous war in Iran, fuel prices continue to rise, Americans are spending more at grocery stores, and they are losing access to healthcare.” For her part, Democratic Representative Melanie Stansbury expressed a similar stance, stating: “The name New Mexico is not up for debate; it existed here before the United States was even an idea. Why is the president wasting his time creating ‘memes’ and harassing the people of our state, while inflation reaches unprecedented levels, fuel prices are skyrocketing, and people cannot afford food, healthcare, and housing, not to mention dragging the country into an illegal war in the Middle East that has claimed the lives of American soldiers, injured hundreds, and killed thousands of civilians? The answer is clear.”