Trump made in intentions very clear.
President-elect Donald Trump recently reiterated his commitment to reversing former President Obama’s 2015 decision to rename North America’s tallest mountain, located in Alaska, from Mount McKinley to Denali. The name “Denali,” meaning “The Great One” or “High One,” is rooted in the language of Alaska’s Koyukon Athabascan people, but Trump has long argued that the change was a politically motivated slight against Ohio, the home state of President William McKinley, after whom the peak had been named.
Trump made his pledge during a recent speech at a Phoenix conference, where he reminded the audience that President McKinley, a Republican, had supported strong tariffs—policies Trump has often championed. Trump had initially voiced his opposition to Obama’s decision in 2015, calling it an “insult to Ohio.” This position aligns with his broader strategy of restoring traditional American values and rejecting what he views as the overreach of the progressive left.
In his remarks, Trump also vowed to undo other controversial moves by the left, including the rebranding of military bases named after Confederate generals. One such example is Fort Bragg, which has now been renamed Fort Liberty. Trump’s remarks reflect his broader commitment to preserving America’s heritage and rejecting the liberal agenda to erase historical figures and symbols.
The history of Mount McKinley is steeped in the early days of Alaska’s gold rush. Gold prospector William Dickey named the peak in 1896 after McKinley, who had just secured the Republican nomination for president. Dickey’s choice was partly a political statement, as he opposed the silver standard advocated by McKinley’s Democratic rival, William Jennings Bryan.
Despite the historical significance of the name, many Alaskans, including Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, have voiced their support for Denali. They argue that the name belongs to Alaska’s Native peoples and has been used for thousands of years, far before McKinley’s time. In fact, Sen. Sullivan has stated that “Denali belongs to Alaska and its citizens,” and that it was a name given by the tough, resilient Athabascan people who have long called the region home.
For his part, former Ohio Congressman Ralph Regula, a Republican who fiercely opposed the name change, argued that Obama’s executive decision to alter the name was an overreach of presidential power. Regula, who represented McKinley’s hometown of Canton, Ohio, likened the move to dictatorial governance and fought to preserve the mountain’s name throughout his tenure in Congress.
Yet, some Ohio politicians, like current Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, have taken a more measured approach, acknowledging that Alaskans should have the right to name landmarks within their own state. Husted expressed his respect for Ohio’s history with McKinley, but ultimately, he deferred to the wishes of Alaskans, emphasizing the importance of local autonomy.
As President-elect Trump prepares to take office, his stance on Denali serves as a reminder of his commitment to conservative values, states’ rights, and a respect for historical traditions that resonate with the American people. Whether or not the name change is ultimately reversed, the debate underscores the larger conflict between preserving America’s heritage and the progressive push to erase or reshape it according to a more modern, often divisive, agenda.