President-elect Donald Trump's latest campaign promise ignites controversy over the naming of North America's highest peak.
According to Fox News, Trump has pledged to reverse former President Obama's 2015 decision to rename Mount McKinley to its traditional Koyukon Athabascan name, Denali, sparking opposition from Alaska's Republican senators.
The dispute centers around the 20,320-foot mountain's cultural significance and historical context, pitting Trump's desire to honor the 25th president against Alaska's preference for the indigenous name that has existed for thousands of years. Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan have both expressed strong opposition to Trump's proposal, emphasizing the importance of preserving the peak's Native American heritage.
Trump made his announcement during a conservative conference in Phoenix, connecting the name change to his broader agenda of reversing various Democratic policies. The mountain received its McKinley designation in 1896 from gold prospector William Dickey, who chose the name to celebrate McKinley's Republican presidential nomination and to antagonize supporters of Democratic candidate William Jennings Bryan.
Senator Murkowski expressed her strong disagreement with Trump's proposal. According to her statement to KTUU, she said:
We already went through this with President Trump back and at the very beginning of his first term.
The Alaska senator further emphasized the historical significance of the Athabascan name, questioning why North America's highest peak shouldn't carry its traditional name meaning "The Great One."
The naming dispute has deep historical roots extending beyond Alaska's borders. President William McKinley, who never visited Alaska during his lifetime, was assassinated in 1901 by anarchist Leon Czolgosz in Buffalo, New York, just six months into his second term.
Former Ohio Representative Ralph Regula, who represented McKinley's home district of Canton, had previously fought against any name change attempts during his time in Congress. Before his death in 2017, Regula criticized Obama's decision, suggesting the former president had overstepped his authority.
However, some Ohio officials have shown understanding toward Alaska's position. Current Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted acknowledged the state's right to choose its own place names despite his personal appreciation for McKinley's legacy.
The controversy extends beyond simple geographical nomenclature, touching on broader issues of cultural recognition and state sovereignty. Sullivan's office has maintained support for the indigenous name, emphasizing the connection between the peak and Alaska's Native populations.
Both Alaska senators have consistently defended the Denali name, with Sullivan, despite his Ohio roots, backing the traditional Athabascan designation. Their stance reflects a broader consensus among Alaskans who have embraced the mountain's indigenous name.
The debate also highlights the ongoing tension between federal authority and state preferences in matters of cultural significance. Trump's promise to reverse the name change would mark his second attempt to restore the McKinley designation, following a similar effort during his first term.
The naming dispute over North America's tallest mountain has evolved into a complex political issue involving President-elect Trump, Alaska's Republican senators, and the mountain's cultural heritage. Trump's pledge to reverse Obama's 2015 decision to rename Mount McKinley as Denali has met strong resistance from Alaska's congressional delegation, who support preserving the peak's traditional Athabascan name.
