The discussion over renaming Denali back to Mount McKinley has been revived following President Donald Trump’s executive order. This has sparked renewed debates about historical legacy, Indigenous heritage, and federal authority. The name of the mountain is closely linked to both long-standing traditions and the legacy of a former president, which has attracted national attention to the issue.
Here’s a look at the mountain’s naming history, Trump’s motivations for the order, and why the decision has sparked widespread discussion.
Donald Trump changes name of Denali
President Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming Denali, North America’s tallest peak, back to Mountain McKinley on January 20, 2025.
The name Denali, meaning “the High One,” has been used for thousands of years by Alaska’s Koyukon Athabascan people. Denali officially replaced Mount McKinley in 2015 when President Barack Obama issued an order to restore the mountain’s Indigenous name, honoring Alaska Natives’ traditions.
The mountain was first named Mount McKinley in 1896 by a gold prospector who wanted to honor William McKinley, then a presidential candidate, per Associated Press. The U.S. government formally recognized the name Mountain McKinley in 1917, despite objections from Alaskans and Indigenous groups. In 1975, Alaska petitioned to change the name, but the effort succeeded only during the Obama administration.
Donald Trump justified the renaming as a tribute to McKinley, who supported tariffs that boosted U.S. manufacturing. McKinley was the 25th president and served from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. Trump’s executive order instructed federal agencies to update records to reflect the name Mountain McKinley. However, Denali National Park and Preserve will keep its current name.
The decision has drawn criticism, including from Alaska’s congressional delegation. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski expressed her opposition, citing the mountain’s significance to the Indigenous people of Alaska. Senator Dan Sullivan also defended the historical importance of the name Denali.
Donald Trump’s executive order also included renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. It reversed several environmental decisions by the Biden administration. This included reopening parts of the Beaufort Sea for oil drilling. Federal leasing in this area has been restricted since 2007.
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on ComingSoon.net.
