Trump’s Renaming Push Sparks Backlash and Media Defiance

New Mexicans across political and cultural backgrounds have rejected US President Donald Trump’s proposal to rename their state “New America.” Residents and historians say the name New Mexico represents more than 450 years of Indigenous, Spanish, Mexican and American history, and that replacing it would amount to erasing the state’s identity and culture. Trump proposed the renaming on Sept 6, 2026, as trade negotiations with Mexico intensified. The article links the suggestion to his earlier efforts to rename major geographic features, including Lake Ontario as “Lake America” and the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” which he said would restore “American Greatness.” However, more than a dozen New Mexicans interviewed by Reuters said they saw nothing positive in the latest proposal. The idea has been opposed by both Republican and Democratic politicians in New Mexico. Indigenous potter Ethel Yazza, a member of the Santa Clara and Picuris communities, said Trump would not take anything from the state’s people. State Historian Rob Martinez explained that Spanish explorers named the region La Nueva Mexico in the 1560s, while seeking wealth and labor similar to those found around present-day Mexico City. He argued that the existing name is historically meaningful and more attractive than “New America.” The article also emphasizes the state’s Mexican and Hispanic heritage. New Mexico became part of Mexico in 1821 before being invaded and occupied by the United States roughly three decades later. Mexican American artist Jesus Trevizo Martinez called Trump’s proposal racist and an attack on people of Mexican ancestry. Hispanic and Latino residents make up about 49 percent of New Mexico’s population, the highest proportion among US states. Even Larry Cruz, a Trump voter in 2024, described the proposal as frightening because it appeared designed to erase history. The White House had not responded publicly to the criticism or to Reuters’ request for comment.

The article reports that The Associated Press is instructing its journalists and other users of AP style to continue calling the body of water Lake Ontario. This position conflicts with an order issued by President Donald Trump the previous month, which directed that the lake be renamed Lake America. According to the article, the renaming order came as the Trump administration’s trade conflict with Canada intensified. The report frames the AP’s decision as a refusal to adopt the administration’s preferred terminology. By advising reporters to retain the lake’s original name, the AP is maintaining its existing editorial style rather than reflecting the presidential order in its standard usage. The article does not provide further details about the legal status of the renaming directive, the AP’s reasoning, reactions from Canadian or U.S. officials, or how other news organizations intend to handle the change. The dispute illustrates how geographic names can become politically charged during periods of tension between governments. It also highlights the role of news organizations’ style guides in determining how official actions and contested terminology are presented to the public. The article’s brief account connects the naming controversy directly to the broader escalation of trade tensions between the United States and Canada, suggesting that the order was part of a wider political dispute rather than an isolated administrative change. Written by Amy B. Wang for The Washington Post, the piece primarily informs readers about the AP’s editorial guidance and its disagreement with the president’s naming order.

The article reports that the Associated Press will continue referring to Lake Ontario by its original name, despite an order from President Donald Trump directing that it be renamed Lake America. The AP is advising its own reporters, as well as journalists and other users who follow AP style, to retain the traditional name in their work. The decision creates a direct conflict between the administration’s preferred terminology and the AP’s established editorial guidance. According to the supplied article text, Trump issued the renaming order last month as his administration’s trade war with Canada escalated. Lake Ontario borders both the United States and Canada, making the naming dispute part of a broader period of tension between the two countries. However, the excerpt does not provide details about the precise language of the order, the legal authority behind it, whether government agencies are expected to use the new name, or how Canadian officials have responded. The AP’s position is presented primarily as a matter of style and journalistic usage. By instructing reporters and followers of AP style to continue using “Lake Ontario,” the news organization is maintaining its editorial convention even while the administration promotes “Lake America.” The brief report therefore focuses on the contrast between official presidential terminology and the naming standards used by a major news organization. The supplied text ends after announcing the AP’s guidance and does not include further explanation, reactions, or analysis of the potential consequences of the disagreement.