Trump’s US State Name Changes: A New Target for the President

President Donald Trump Targets New Mexico for Geographic Rebrand

Precedent for Executive Geographic Renaming Across North America

The proposed rebrand follows a series of executive orders issued by President Donald Trump during his second term aimed at altering familiar geographic names. According to official records, an early executive order titled “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” officially changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. That same January 2025 order restored North America’s tallest peak, Denali in Alaska, to its previous name, Mount McKinley. Late last month, the president signed another executive order changing Lake Ontario to Lake America amid an escalating trade war with Canada, despite previously suggesting on Fox News that Canada should become the nation’s 51st state by stating, “They think they’re a state, but they’re not a state. Why should we be subsidizing Canada?”

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Tech Giants and Mapmakers Diverge on Navigation App Compliance

Technology companies have split in their responses to the presidential map changes, mirroring the earlier dispute over the Gulf of America. According to company statements, MapQuest refused to adopt the federal changes for Lake Ontario, writing on X, “We’re not changing it.” MapQuest general manager Doug Berger noted that the company took the same approach as it did with the Gulf of Mexico to “be part of the conversation, and give people an app that keeps the names they’re familiar with.” Berger added that hundreds of thousands of users downloaded the app over the weekend in response. In contrast, tech giants Apple and Google caved to the administration, switching the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America for U.S. users, just as they did following the demand to relabel the Gulf of Mexico.

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Expanding Ambitions Beyond Earth and Domestic Priorities

President Donald Trump’s focus on altering official names and national symbols extends beyond terrestrial borders and municipal boundaries. Shortly after posting the map of New Mexico, the 80-year-old leader shared an image of the moon on Truth Social with the caption “The moon is ours.” Domestically, his second term has also featured extensive renovations to the White House, including a large ballroom, alongside previous efforts to place his name on prominent buildings like the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts—a change that was ultimately reversed after a federal judge demanded its removal. Concurrently, a CNN poll conducted by research firm SSRS in late July indicated that 73 percent of Americans believe Trump has not paid enough attention to the country’s most important problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What geographic changes has President Donald Trump ordered?

According to federal orders and administration announcements, President Donald Trump has ordered the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, Lake Ontario to Lake America, and Mount McKinley back from Denali, alongside suggested rebrandings for New Mexico.

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How have tech companies responded to the map changes?

Apple and Google updated their U.S. map applications to reflect the name changes for Lake Ontario and the Gulf of Mexico, while alternative navigation providers like MapQuest refused to alter the traditional names.

What was the public reaction to the proposed New Mexico rebrand?

Reaction was sharply divided, with groups like Republicans Against Trump criticizing the proposal on social media, while conservative figures expressed support.