Former President Donald Trump's directive to revert the name of Denali back to Mount McKinley is encountering staunch opposition in Alaska. Despite the Interior Department's announced efforts to implement the renaming, many Alaskans and state leaders maintain that the mountain will always be known as Denali. This name, meaning 'the high one' in the Athabascan language, reflects the cultural heritage of Alaska Natives who have called the region home for centuries. The 20,310-foot peak, visible for hundreds of miles on clear days, holds a special place in Alaskan identity.
An aerial overall exterior general view of Caesars Superdome with the New Orleans skyline in the background is seen in New Orleans, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman, File)World Heritage Center opens to the public in the heart of the South SideLG Electric Ranges recalled; warning label sent for affected modelsGet ready for some fabulous Insider Deals that will help you enjoy a cozy night's sleep and some that will elevate your style and beauty game.
Read full article: Elevate your style and beauty game with these Insider DealsFILE - People stand at the Eielson Visitor Center with a view of North America's tallest peak, Denali, in the background, Sept. 2, 2015, in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, file)Recommended Videos He said he planned 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.”The Interior Department late last month announced efforts were underway to implement Trump’s renaming order, even though state leaders haven’t seen the matter as settled. An Interior spokesperson, J. Elizabeth Peace, earlier this week said the agency did not have any further updates. According to the National Park Service, a prospector in 1896 dubbed the peak Mount McKinley for William McKinley, who was elected president that year. Although there were challenges to the McKinley name at the time it was announced, maps had already been circulated with the mountain’s name in place. There was no recognition of the name Denali, or “the high one,” bestowed on the mountain in interior Alaska by Athabascan tribal members, who have lived in the region for centuries.The name change reflected the traditions of Alaska Natives and the preference of many Alaskans, underscored by a push by state leaders decades earlier. The 20,310-foot (6,190-meter) mountain in Denali National Park and Preserve on clear days can be see from hundreds of miles away. Joe McAneney of Talkeetna is a pilot for an air taxi company, ferrying climbers and tourists to the mountain in a small airplane outfitted with skis to land atHe said previously that once tourist season comes around, he will have to answer questions of what he thinks about Trump changing the name. He knows what his answer will be. “I think unofficially and officially in Alaska, it’ll always be Denali,” McAneney said. “I don’t think the president can change that.” Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Get ready for some fabulous Insider Deals that will help you enjoy a cozy night's sleep and some that will elevate your style and beauty game.Read full article: Elevate your style and beauty game with these Insider Deal
Denali Mount Mckinley Donald Trump Alaska Interior Department Native American Culture Politics National Parks
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump renames Denali to Mount McKinley in honor of Ohio’s William McKinleyExecutive order restores century-old name, cites McKinley's tariff policies and territorial expansions
Read more »
Trump Wants to Change Denali Back to Mount McKinleyPresident Trump, in his inaugural address, sparked controversy by proposing to rename Denali, North America's highest peak, back to Mount McKinley, honoring former President William McKinley. This decision faces strong opposition from Alaskan officials and indigenous communities who prefer the traditional Athabascan name 'Denali'.
Read more »
Trump Wants to Rename Denali to Mount McKinleyPresident Donald Trump has sparked controversy by suggesting the reinstatement of 'Mount McKinley' as the official name for North America's tallest peak, currently known as Denali. This move has reignited a long-standing debate over the mountain's nomenclature.
Read more »
Trump to Reverse Denali Name Change, Restore Mount McKinleyPresident Donald Trump announced his intention to sign an executive order reversing the Obama administration's decision to rename Mount McKinley to Denali. Trump argues the mountain should bear the name of former President William McKinley, after whom it was originally named.
Read more »
Trump Wants to Rename Denali Back to Mount McKinleyPresident Donald Trump has reignited the debate over the name of North America's tallest mountain, proposing to revert it from Denali to Mount McKinley in honor of President William McKinley. This decision has drawn immediate opposition from Alaskan officials and Native American communities who prefer the traditional Athabascan name 'Denali'.
Read more »
Trump Vows to Revert Mount Denali Back to 'Mount McKinley'President Trump plans to rename Mount Denali back to 'Mount McKinley' during his presidency, sparking debate about honoring indigenous history and cultural recognition.
Read more »