January 21, 2025
In a move that has reignited a longstanding debate, President Donald Trump has issued an executive order to rename Denali, North America's tallest peak, back to Mount McKinley. This decision reverses the 2015 change made by former President Barack Obama, who renamed the mountain to honor Alaska's indigenous Koyukon Athabascans.
The mountain, standing at 20,310 feet, was originally named Mount McKinley in 1896 by a prospector who chose the name to honor President William McKinley. McKinley, who served as the 25th U.S. president, never visited Alaska. The name was officially changed to Denali in 2015 to reflect the traditional name used by Alaska Natives.
President Trump's executive order emphasizes the contributions of President McKinley to the nation's economy, particularly his support for protective tariffs. The order mandates that the Interior Secretary implement the new name within 30 days and update federal systems accordingly. However, the name change applies only to federal use and does not extend to schools or non-federal settings.
The decision has sparked opposition from Alaska's senior senator, Lisa Murkowski, who stated that the mountain should continue to be known as Denali, its traditional name. Murkowski's stance reflects the ongoing debate between honoring indigenous names and recognizing historical figures.
In addition to the mountain's renaming, President Trump's executive order also seeks to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, further emphasizing a focus on American heritage.
These actions are part of a broader initiative to celebrate American history and contributions, though they have also reignited discussions about the significance of place names and their cultural implications.
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