Raúl Torrez offered no elaboration after responding to the president’s proposed rebranding of New Mexico

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

SANTA FE - New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez needed one word Monday to answer President Donald Trump’s suggestion that New Mexico be renamed “New America.”

“Pendejo.”

Torrez posted the Spanish-language insult on X above a screenshot of Trump’s proposal. His post offered no further explanation.

Trump on Sunday shared an image of a New Mexico map with “Mexico” crossed out and “America” written beneath it. He later claimed “many people” had suggested the change and called “New America” a “more prestigious and beautiful” name.

The president has not signed an executive order changing the state’s name, and the White House has announced no formal effort to do so.

Torrez’s response followed longer objections from other New Mexico Democrats, including Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján and U.S. Reps. Melanie Stansbury and Gabe Vasquez.

Torrez did not elaborate.

House Republican Leader Gail Armstrong, R-Magdalena, also rejected the proposed name change Monday, saying New Mexico’s “name and identity are not up for negotiation.” Armstrong called the White House message a “troll post” and accused Democrats of using the controversy to divert attention from state issues ahead of the November election.