January 21st 2025.
In a surprising move, President Donald Trump has issued an executive order to rename North America's tallest peak, Denali in Alaska, to Mount McKinley. This is an idea he had mentioned years ago and has now decided to pursue, despite receiving criticism from Alaska's Republican senior senator. This decision came shortly after his inauguration for a second term, where he stated his intention to "restore the name of a great president, William McKinley, to Mount McKinley, where it rightfully belongs." According to Trump, President McKinley's contributions to the country through tariffs and talent warrant this change.
However, not everyone shares Trump's enthusiasm for this decision. US Senator Lisa Murkowski has expressed her strong disagreement with the renaming of Denali. In a statement, she emphasized that the mountain has been known as Denali for thousands of years and should continue to be referred to by its rightful name, given by the Koyukon Athabascans who have been the stewards of the land since time immemorial.
The origins of the name Mount McKinley can be traced back to 1896 when a prospector decided to name the peak after William McKinley, who had just been elected president that year. Interestingly, McKinley had never even been to Alaska. The US government officially recognized this name until 2015 when it was changed by the Obama administration to Denali, in order to honor the traditions of Alaska Natives and the preference of many Alaskans. This change was met with opposition from lawmakers in McKinley's home state of Ohio.
Denali is an Athabascan word meaning "the high one" or "the great one." This iconic 6190m mountain, with its snow-capped peaks and glaciers, is located in Denali National Park and Preserve. The Tanana Chiefs Conference, a consortium of Athabascan tribes, had been advocating for the peak to be recognized as Denali for many years.
Trump's executive order also includes a celebration of President McKinley's legacy and his efforts to protect American interests and generate wealth for the country. The order states that McKinley's assassination in 1901 only further solidifies his place in history as a dedicated leader who gave his life for the nation.
Despite this decision, there have been mixed reactions from the Alaskan community. Messages seeking comments from Alaska's congressional delegation and Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy have been left unanswered. In 2017, Alaska's US senators strongly opposed a suggestion by Trump to revert back to the name Mount McKinley. However, during a rally last year, Trump revisited the topic, stating that "they took his name off Mount McKinley, right? That's what they do to people."
The name dispute between Alaska and Ohio has been ongoing for decades, with Alaska officially requesting the name change in 1975. In the same executive order, Trump also calls for changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
In addition to the Denali name change, Trump also rescinded a decision made by President Joe Biden in 2023 to ban drilling on nearly 3 million acres of the Beaufort Sea off the northern coast of Alaska. This decision was made around the same time that the Biden administration approved the controversial Willow oil project in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. The approval of this project has sparked anger among environmentalists, and litigation is still pending.
As Trump's term comes to an end, his executive orders have sparked both praise and criticism. His decision to rename Denali has reignited the debate between Alaska and Ohio, and only time will tell if the name change will stick.
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