A recent call by Donald Trump to rename the US state of New Mexico to 'New America' has sparked widespread outrage among its residents. Actor and comedian Steven Michael Quezada, known for his role in *Breaking Bad*, initially thought the suggestion was a joke when he saw it on social media over the Labor Day weekend.
However, the proposal is not being met with humour in a state that has the largest percentage of Latinos and the most federally recognised Native American tribes in the United States. Sarah Noss, a native New Mexican and non-profit executive, stated that the word 'Mexico' appears to have a connotation of people of colour in Trump's mind, and the suggestion feels like a 'whitewashing' of the state.
The president's suggestion has reopened historical grievances for New Mexico, which has been a target for bigoted attacks since 1848 when the US acquired the territory. The state's name, 'Nueva Mexico', dates back to the 1560s, a reference by Spanish settlers to Mexico City. State historian Rob Martinez noted that US lawmakers resisted New Mexico's statehood for over 60 years due to its large Spanish-speaking and Native populations.
While some Republicans in the state, including gubernatorial candidate Gregg Hull, have dismissed the suggestion, congressional candidate Greg Cunningham described Trump's posts as 'satire' and a Democratic attempt to 'distract voters'. However, any name change would require New Mexicans to approve a state constitutional amendment, which is considered unlikely as Democrats hold every statewide office.