Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx shared a message following the band’s recent concert in New Mexico. He touched on a political topic in a post on Facebook.
The post thanked fans for attending the show. It also referenced the recent controversy surrounding a proposal to rename New Mexico to “New America.”
“Great show tonight in New Mexico,” Nikki Sixx said. “Not now not ever New America.”
The comment drew a range of reactions from fans. One follower wrote, “I wish more people were like you.” Another cautioned, “Nikki, I love you bro but we’re entertainers and not politicians. Music is where people go to escape the division. It’s best we just focus on being the escape for everyone and keep our opinions about that kind of stuff to ourselves.” A third fan simply urged him to “forget about politics.”
Many fans praised Sixx for speaking out. Others felt entertainers should steer clear of political commentary altogether.
The remark lands against the backdrop of a genuine political flashpoint that has been simmering for days.
President Donald Trump ignited the controversy on September 7, 2026. He posted on social media that “many people” had suggested renaming New Mexico “New America,” arguing the new name would be “more prestigious and beautiful.” The proposal surfaced as trade negotiations with Mexico were intensifying. This added a diplomatic edge to what many initially dismissed as a passing remark.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham rejected the idea outright. Residents across the state pushed back hard. Locals in Taos described the renaming push as an attempt to erase the state’s history and culture. They framed it as a dismissal of New Mexico’s distinct Hispanic and Indigenous heritage rather than a simple branding exercise. A president has no authority to rename a state unilaterally. Such a change would require a state constitutional amendment and voter approval, placing the proposal well outside the reach of federal executive power.
Sixx’s post landed squarely in the middle of that public debate, giving his comment added weight beyond a typical post-show thank-you message.
The remark also came amid Mötley Crüe’s ongoing Return of the Carnival of Sins tour, a 33-date North American run. The tour kicked off July 17 in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, and is set to close September 26 in Ridgefield, Washington. The band’s New Mexico stop fell within a stretch of dates that included shows in Kansas City, Dallas, and Houston, ahead of the tour’s final leg toward the Pacific Northwest. This underscores how directly the concert and the political moment intersected for Sixx and his audience that night.
