Trump Reverses Obama's Decision; Renames North America's Highest Peak
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Synopsis
On January 21, President Trump signed an executive order reinstating the name 'Mount McKinley' for North America's tallest peak, overturning Obama's 2015 renaming to 'Denali'. This move has stirred debate about cultural identity and the historical significance of the names.
Key Takeaways
- Trump reinstated the name 'Mount McKinley'.
- The national park remains 'Denali National Park and Preserve'.
- Senator Lisa Murkowski supported the name change.
- Controversy surrounds the decision, especially among Indigenous groups.
- Trump also announced plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico.
Washington, Jan 21 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump has enacted an executive order to reinstate the name of North America's tallest peak to Mount McKinley, reversing the prior decision made by former President Barack Obama to rename it Denali.
Nevertheless, the adjacent national park will still be referred to as Denali National Park and Preserve, as stated in the order signed on Monday.
During his inaugural address, Trump declared, "We will restore the name of a great president, William McKinley, to Mount McKinley, where it should be and where it belongs."
The executive order received strong backing from Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who was instrumental in pushing for the official name change.
"This order honors President McKinley for sacrificing his life for our great nation and duly recognizes his historic legacy of safeguarding America's interests and creating immense wealth for all Americans. Within 30 days of this order, the Secretary of the Interior shall reinstate the name Mount McKinley," the order stated.
"The Secretary shall then update the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) to reflect the renaming and reinstatement of Mount McKinley," the order noted.
The 25th President of the United States, William McKinley, never visited Alaska nor had any direct ties to the mountain, which was named in his honor in 1917.
In 2015, Obama officially changed the mountain's name to Denali, a name that has been used by Alaska Natives for centuries and translates to "the High One" in the Koyukon Athabaskan language.
This peak, rising over 20,000 feet, holds significant cultural and historical value for the Indigenous peoples of Alaska.
The decision to revert the name has ignited controversy, especially among environmental and cultural organizations. Athan Manuel, director of the Sierra Club's land protection program, criticized the action, asserting that it dismisses the traditions of Alaska Natives and the preferences of numerous Alaskans.
"The Koyukon people have known this mountain as Denali for centuries, and even the state's elected officials object to this renaming effort. It's evident that Donald Trump is more focused on culture war theatrics than on addressing the needs of the American populace," Manuel stated.
In a different announcement from his inauguration platform, Trump also disclosed plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
"The Gulf will continue to play a crucial role in shaping America's future and the global economy, and in recognition of this thriving economic resource and its vital importance to our nation's economy and its people, I am directing that it officially be renamed the Gulf of America," Trump's executive order asserted.
Both decisions have faced widespread backlash and are anticipated to spark discussions regarding cultural identity, historical legacy, and environmental policy in the months ahead.
