On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to rename North America’s tallest peak from Denali back to Mount McKinley, reversing the 2015 decision made during President Barack Obama’s administration.
The mountain, located in Alaska, was originally named Mount McKinley in 1896 after President William McKinley. In 2015, the Obama administration changed the name to Denali, honoring the traditional name used by the Koyukon Athabascans, indigenous people of the region.
President Trump’s decision has sparked controversy, particularly among environmental and cultural groups. Athan Manuel, director of the Sierra Club’s land protection program, criticized the move, stating that it disregards Alaska Natives’ long-standing traditions and the preferences of many Alaskans.
Alaska’s senior senator, Lisa Murkowski, also opposed the change, affirming that the mountain should continue to be known as Denali, its traditional name.
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In addition to renaming Denali, President Trump’s executive order includes plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and rescinds a drilling ban off Alaska’s northern coast implemented during the Biden administration.
