The Trump administration’s decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and revert Denali to Mount McKinley has ignited a firestorm of debate across the nation.
At a Glance
- Trump administration renames Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America
- Denali reverted to Mount McKinley, its pre-2015 name
- Changes part of executive actions signed by President Trump
- Interior Department cites honoring US heritage as motivation
- Renaming sparks controversy and international opposition
Trump Administration Reshapes American Landmarks
The Trump administration has officially renamed two prominent American geographical features. The Gulf of Mexico will now be known as the Gulf of America, while Alaska’s highest peak, Denali, will once again bear the name Mount McKinley.
Yes, he actually followed through with it.
These changes, part of executive actions signed by President Donald Trump, have been presented as a way to emphasize American heritage and honor historical figures. The Interior Department, tasked with implementing these changes, stated the reasoning behind the decision.
“These changes reaffirm the Nation’s commitment to preserving the extraordinary heritage of the United States and ensuring that future generations of Americans celebrate the legacy of its heroes and historic assets,” the Interior Department said.
The renaming of the Gulf of Mexico has proven particularly contentious, with Mexico voicing strong opposition to the change. The Mexican government argues that the Gulf of Mexico is an internationally recognized name with centuries of historical and cultural significance. In a lighthearted response to the situation, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum jokingly suggested renaming North America to “Mexican America.”
“As directed by the President, the Gulf of Mexico will now officially be known as the Gulf of America and North America’s highest peak will once again bear the name Mount McKinley,” the Interior Department said.
While the U.S. Geological Survey can implement the name change domestically, international recognition of the new name is highly unlikely. The U.S. Board on Geographic Names will update federal nomenclature to reflect these changes, but other nations are not obligated to recognize the new designation.
JANUARY 7TH:
🎒Trump renames Gulf of Mexico to Gulf Of America
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🎒The View’s Sunny Hostin’s husband is named in insurance fraud lawsuitUNPACK pic.twitter.com/7Ptb1SMlFO
— Unpack With Jack Mac (@UnpackJackMac) January 8, 2025
The decision to revert Denali’s name to Mount McKinley has also met with sharp criticism, particularly from those who see it as undermining indigenous cultural heritage. The mountain was originally named after President William McKinley, who served from 1897 to 1901. However, in 2015, President Obama officially recognized the traditional Native Alaskan name, Denali, which means “tall” in the Koyukon Indigenous language.
“You can’t improve upon the name that Alaska’s Koyukon Athabascans bestowed on North America’s tallest peak, Denali – the Great One. For years, I advocated in Congress to restore the rightful name for this majestic mountain to respect Alaska’s first people who have lived on these lands for thousands of years. This is an issue that should not be relitigated,” Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski said.
She never has anything good to say about Trump, anyway.