Why and when was Mount McKinley renamed to Denali? Trump pledges to restore name of North America’s tallest peak

Mount McKinley was officially renamed Denali in 2015, ending a century-long naming controversy. The decision was announced by then-Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewell, citing a 1947 law allowing name changes when the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (USBGN) fails to act within a reasonable time.

The name change was symbolic and celebrated just before the National Park Service’s centennial in 2016, honoring the mountain’s Indigenous roots and aligning with a broader recognition of Native cultural heritage.

Now, with the latest order issued by Donald Trump on Monday, he has said he wants to:

“Restore the name of a great president, William McKinley, to Mount McKinley, where it should be and where it belongs. President McKinley made our country very rich through tariffs and through talent.”

According to the National Park Service, the name 'Mount McKinley' emerged in 1897 when prospector William Dickey, an admirer of then-presidential candidate William McKinley, referred to the peak by that name in a New York Sun article. McKinley, who was later elected president and assassinated in 1901, had no direct connection to Alaska.

Despite the official adoption of 'Mount McKinley' in 1917 when the national park was established, the name faced opposition from Native groups and Alaskans who wished to honor the mountain’s traditional name.

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Trump's order to rename Denali as Mount McKinley— reactions

According to Yahoo News, the name Denali, derived from the Athabascan language, translates to 'the tall one' or 'the majestic one.' Towering at 20,310 feet (6,190 meters) and adorned with snow and glaciers, the mountain is a prominent feature of Denali National Park and Preserve.

Advocating for its traditional name, the Tanana Chiefs Conference, representing Interior Alaska’s Athabascan tribes, led persistent efforts to restore the mountain’s original Indigenous designation.

Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski, strongly disagreed with Trump's order to rename Denali to Mount McKinley. In a post on X, she stated:

"I strongly disagree with the President’s decision on Denali. Our nation’s tallest mountain, which has been called Denali for thousands of years, must continue to be known by the rightful name bestowed by Alaska’s Koyukon Athabascans, who have stewarded the land since time immemorial."

For decades, Alaska and Ohio were locked in a dispute over the mountain's name. Alaska first officially requested the change in 1975 when the state legislature passed a resolution, and then-Governor Jay Hammond formally petitioned the federal government to restore the peak's original name.

On Monday, Trump also issued an executive order proposing renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

As per the Associated Press, state historian Jo Antonson expressed doubt about any future name changes, noting that such a move would likely face strong opposition from the people of Alaska.