Trump to Rename Gulf of Mexico and Mount Denali in Honor of “American Greatness”

Donald Trump, the 47th president of the United States, is set to rename the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska’s Mount Denali in his first hours in office. The Gulf of Mexico will be renamed the Gulf of America, while Denali, North America’s highest peak, will be referred to as Mount McKinley, its former name until 2015 when President Barack Obama renamed it. The renaming of these two natural landmarks is intended to honor “American greatness,” according to a preview of the executive orders.

Trump had previously expressed his intention to rename both the Gulf of Mexico and Mount Denali. The executive orders will instruct the Secretary of the Interior to implement these changes, which will then be reflected in federal communications and official maps. It remains unclear whether the new names will be mandated for use in schools or non-federal settings.

The renaming of Mount Denali to Mount McKinley holds particular significance for Trump. The mountain, with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet, is the tallest peak in North America. The federal government officially named it Mount McKinley in 1917 to honor William McKinley, a Republican president who was assassinated 16 years prior. McKinley’s tariff policies and expansion of US territory following the Spanish-American War have been sources of inspiration for Trump.

At a December rally in Arizona, Trump praised McKinley as a “very good, maybe a great president,” and lamented the removal of his name from the mountain. The draft of the executive order also honors McKinley for his service to the nation and his role in protecting America’s interests and generating wealth for the country.

Obama renamed Mount McKinley to Denali in 2015 to honor the indigenous name of the mountain used by the Koyukon Athabaskans, the original inhabitants of Alaska. The Alaska Legislature had requested this name change from the federal government in 1975.

Trump also previously mentioned his plan to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America at a press conference earlier this month, stating that the new name has a “beautiful ring.” The Gulf of Mexico, which borders five states – Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida – is a key location for offshore petroleum production, an industry Trump has pledged to support in his second term.

The draft of the executive order commends the Gulf for its crucial role in the maritime industry, energy production, international commerce, tourism, fishing, and recreation. Trump, 78, is expected to sign the orders at the Capitol following his swearing-in, or possibly at the White House after the inaugural parade. The 47th president is anticipated to sign nearly 200 executive actions by the end of his first day in office.