Fact Check: Did Trump sign an executive order renaming New Mexico to New America?

WASHINGTON, DC: After President Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario as “Lake America,” another claim about an alleged executive order began circulating online

A viral social media post claimed Trump had signed an order to rename New Mexico as “New America.” The claim appears to build on recent controversies surrounding Trump’s geographic renaming orders, including the Lake Ontario decision.

Let’s fact-check the claim.

Claim: Trump signed an executive order renaming New Mexico to New America

The rumor originated from an X user, Daily News Talk, who posted about the alleged executive order.

The post claimed, “Donald Trump has signed an executive order to change the name of New Mexico to New America.” It included a formal portrait of Trump and an edited map that labeled the state “New America” while showing familiar locations such as Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

The claim appears to draw on Trump’s real executive orders involving geographic names, including the 2025 order to use “Gulf of America” instead of “Gulf of Mexico” and the 2026 order to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America” for US federal use.

At the time of writing, the post had received more than 1.9 million views, prompting several users to question the claim.

One user asked, “Is this true?” Another wrote, “This is a joke right.....????” A third commenter said, “That now would be an imbecile move. Now he also intends to change the name of New York and New England?”

Fact Check: False, post originated in a parody account

The claim that Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming New Mexico to “New America” is false. The post came from @DailyNoud, a parody account whose bio says it posts “fake stories” and is not affiliated with real news organizations.

No such executive order appears in official White House records, the Federal Register, or lists of Trump’s executive actions from 2025 and 2026.

Trump has issued recent orders involving geographic names, including the August 27, 2026, order directing the US government to use “Lake America” for Lake Ontario and the 2025 order directing federal agencies to use “Gulf of America” instead of “Gulf of Mexico.”

However, none of these orders involve changing New Mexico’s name.

Similar claims circulated as satire in April 2025, shortly after Trump ordered federal agencies to use “Gulf of America.” Fact-checking outlets previously identified the claims as fabricated. No evidence has emerged of any official announcement, Truth Social post, or government action renaming New Mexico.

A US president also cannot rename a state through a simple executive order. Changing a state’s name would require action through the constitutional and legislative process, rather than a unilateral presidential directive.