Trump Pledges to Rename Denali, North America’s Highest Peak, Back to Mount McKinley

President Donald Trump has expressed his intention to revert the name of North America’s tallest peak back to Mount McKinley. The announcement comes on the heels of his inauguration for a second term and has reignited a contentious debate about the mountain’s name, which was officially changed to Denali by former President Barack Obama in 2015.

During a speech on Monday, Trump defended his proposal, stating that it was time to honor President William McKinley. He emphasized, “President McKinley made our country very rich through tariffs and through talent.” In addition to the mountain name change, Trump also mentioned plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

Reaction from Alaska’s political leaders remains unclear, as messages sent to the state’s Republican congressional delegation and Governor Mike Dunleavy have gone unanswered. The state’s U.S. senators, Murkowski and Sullivan, opposed Trump’s earlier suggestions to revert the name back in 2017, standing firmly against a change that many Alaskans view as a reflection of Native traditions.

The mountain, known as Denali, translates to “the high one” in the Athabascan language. It stands at an impressive 20,310 feet (6,190 meters) and is a prominent feature within Denali National Park and Preserve. The name Mount McKinley was adopted in 1896 by a prospector and later recognized by the U.S. government, despite significant opposition from Alaskan legislators since the 1970s.

The Tanana Chiefs Conference, representing various Athabascan tribes, has long advocated for the name Denali. Opponents of returning to Mount McKinley argue that the current name acknowledges the cultural heritage and history of the region’s Indigenous peoples.

Political sentiment toward the name has been divided. In December, Trump alluded to the mountain’s name at a rally, opining, “They took his name off Mount McKinley, right? That’s what they do to people.” Senator Murkowski has previously asserted, “You can’t improve upon the name that Alaska’s Koyukon Athabascans bestowed on North America’s tallest peak.”

The divisive history surrounding the name underscores broader discussions about federal recognition of Native American identity and respect for cultural traditions in the United States.