Tue Jan 28 04:36:38 UTC 2025: ## Trump’s Executive Order Reverses Denali Name Change, Reignites Debate Over Geographic Naming

**Washington, D.C. –** President Donald Trump’s administration has taken steps to reinstate the name Mount McKinley for North America’s highest peak, reversing a 2015 decision by President Obama to officially recognize the native Alaskan name, Denali. The move, part of a broader effort to celebrate American history, has reignited a long-standing debate over the naming of geographic features and the recognition of indigenous cultures.

Within hours of taking office, President Trump issued an executive order instructing the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to revert the mountain’s name to Mount McKinley, honoring the 25th U.S. president. The order also tasked the Interior Department with collaborating with Alaska Natives to rename other landmarks, reflecting their historical and cultural significance.

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names, established in 1890 to standardize geographic names for federal use, will oversee the process. The board’s decisions are binding on federal government agencies but not necessarily on private entities like Google or Apple Maps.

The name “Denali,” meaning “the high one” in the Koyukon Athabaskan language, has been used by the indigenous population for centuries. The name “Mount McKinley” was assigned in 1896 by a gold prospector, honoring then-presidential candidate William McKinley. Alaska’s statehood and decades of lobbying by Alaskan officials failed to change the name until President Obama’s executive order in 2015.

The decision to reinstate “Mount McKinley” has sparked criticism from those advocating for the recognition of indigenous place names and cultural heritage. Valerie Grussing, executive director of the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, emphasized the mountain’s sacred significance to the local population.

The Board on Geographic Names has a history of addressing controversial names, having previously removed derogatory terms related to Japanese and Black communities and more recently changing names of locations with offensive origins. This current situation highlights the ongoing tension between preserving historical names and acknowledging the cultural importance of indigenous naming traditions. The debate is far from settled, and the future of the mountain’s name remains uncertain for private use beyond official federal designations.

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