In a dramatic return to the White House, Donald Trump wielded his executive power to reshape America's geographical nomenclature on his first day as the 47th president.
According to the New York Post, Trump signed executive orders Monday night to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and restore Mount Denali's previous federal designation as Mount McKinley.
The executive action requires the interior secretary to implement these changes within 30 days and update the federal Geographic Names Information System accordingly. This directive ensures that all federal communications and government maps will reflect the new designations, though the order does not mandate their use in schools or non-federal settings.
Trump's decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico emerged from earlier discussions at Mar-a-Lago, where he praised "Gulf of America" for its aesthetic appeal.
The body of water, which borders five U.S. states - Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida - represents a crucial zone for offshore petroleum production, an industry Trump has pledged to expand in his second term.
The executive order emphasizes the Gulf's vital role in America's maritime industry, highlighting its significance in energy production, international commerce, tourism, fishing, and recreational activities. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis promptly aligned with the federal directive, utilizing the new name in a state emergency declaration addressing cold weather conditions.
Trump shared his perspective on the Gulf's new designation during a January 7 press conference, stating: "What a beautiful name and it's appropriate."
The restoration of Mount McKinley's name carries particular significance in Trump's executive agenda. The peak, standing at 20,310 feet as North America's highest summit, had held the McKinley designation since 1917, honoring the 25th president who was assassinated in 1901.
The executive order articulates the rationale behind reverting to the McKinley name. Trump's administration emphasized:
The naming of our national treasures, including breathtaking natural wonders and historic works of art, should honor the contributions of visionary and patriotic Americans in our Nation's rich past.
The order maintains sensitivity to indigenous considerations by preserving the name Denali for the surrounding national park. It also directs the secretary to collaborate with local Alaskan populations to protect their traditional naming conventions.
The geographic renaming initiative represents one of Trump's initial actions upon returning to office, demonstrating his administration's focus on reshaping national symbols. These changes reverse previous decisions, including Barack Obama's 2015 order that changed Mount McKinley to Denali, honoring the indigenous Koyukon Athabaskans' traditional name for the peak.
Trump's connection to McKinley extends beyond geographical nomenclature, drawing inspiration from the former president's tariff policies and territorial expansion following the Spanish-American War. The new administration views these name changes as symbolic gestures reflecting broader policy directions and national values.
The implementation timeline gives federal agencies 30 days to incorporate these changes, marking the beginning of a new era in how these prominent American geographical features will be officially referenced in federal documents and communications.
