US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order restoring the name of North America's tallest peak to 'Mount McKinley,' reversing a decision made by former President Barack Obama to rename it 'Denali.'
The surrounding national park, however, will continue to be called 'Denali National Park and Preserve' under the order signed on Monday.
During his inaugural speech on Monday, Trump announced the decision, saying, "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 was spearheaded by Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who led the charge to make the name change official.
This order honors President McKinley for giving his life for our great nation and dutifully recognizes his historic legacy of protecting America's interests and generating enormous wealth for all Americans. Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior shall reinstate the name 'Mount McKinley,'" the order read.
The Secretary shall subsequently update the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) to reflect the renaming and reinstatement of Mount McKinley," the order added.
The 25th President of the United States, William McKinley, never visited Alaska or had any direct connection to the mountain, which was named in his honour in 1917.
In 2015, Obama officially renamed the mountain to 'Denali,' the name that has been used by Alaska Natives for centuries and translates to "the High One" in the Koyukon Athabaskan language.
The mountain standing over 20,000 feet becomes culturally and historically special to the indigenous people of Alaska.
The move has not been without controversy, with some environmental and cultural groups upset by the decision to reverse the name. Sierra Club land protection director Athan Manuel said the move ignores Alaska Natives' long tradition and the preference of many Alaskans.
“The Koyukon people have known this mountain as ‘Denali’ for centuries, and even the state’s elected officials oppose this attempt to rename it. It’s clear that Donald Trump is more interested in culture war stunts than addressing the concerns of the American people,” Manuel said.
In another statement issued from his inaugural podium, Trump also announced a plan to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America."
"The Gulf will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping America's future and the global economy, and in recognition of this flourishing economic resource and its critical 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 declared.
Both decisions have sparked widespread condemnation and are expected to fuel debates about cultural identity, historical legacy, and environmental policy in the coming months.
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