Donald Trump ordered the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska’s Mount Denali in his first hours as the 47th president Monday night.
The Gulf of Mexico was rechristened the Gulf of America, while Denali, the highest mountain in North America, reverted to Mount McKinley — which it was called in the sight of the US government until President Barack Obama changed the name in 2015.
“The naming of our national treasures, including breathtaking natural wonders and historic works of art, should honor the contributions of visionary and patriotic Americans in our Nation’s rich past,” the document read.
Trump had said he would act to rename both the Gulf of Mexico and restore the original federal name to Mount McKinley. REUTERSThe order directs the interior secretary to institute the names within 30 days and update the federal Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) accordingly, meaning “Gulf of America” and “Mount McKinley” will be used in federal communications and on government maps.
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an order using “Gulf of America” Monday afternoon.
In the first official action using the new name, DeSantis declared a state of emergency in the Sunshine State due to cold weather conditions and an impending winter storm.
The order does not mandate use of the new names in schools or in non-federal settings.
The executive order indicated the return of Mount McKinley is of special importance to Trump, with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet making it the tallest peak in North America.
The federal government officially dubbed it Mount McKinley in 1917 in honor of the 25th president, who had been assassinated 16 years before.
McKinley has been an inspiration for Trump, both in terms of his tariff policies and his expansion of US territory following the Spanish-American War.
President Barack Obama renamed Mt. McKinley in 2015 to Denali. Getty Images“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,” the order reads.Obama ordered Mount McKinley to be renamed to Denali to honor the indigenous name of the mountain used by the Koyukon Athabaskans, the original inhabitants of Alaska.
The Alaska Legislature had asked the federal government to change the name in 1975.
Trump’s Executive Order still reserves the name Denali for the surrounding national park, and directs the secretary to work with local Alaskan populations to preserve their names.
Trump had also discussed renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in a press conference at Mar-a-Lago earlier this month, saying it has a “beautiful ring.”
Trump first floated renaming the Gulf of Mexico weeks ago at a press conference. frank – stock.adobe.com“What a beautiful name and it’s appropriate,” Trump declared on Jan. 7.
The president-elect clashed with Mexico throughout his first term and has threatened to impose high tariffs on the country, especially if it doesn’t halt the flow of migrants across its border with the US.
Trump first talked about renaming the Gulf of Mexico earlier in January, as seen on this New York Post cover. rfarainoThe gulf, which borders five states — Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida — is one of the premier locations for offshore petroleum production, which Trump has vowed to encourage in his second term.
“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,” the order read.
The draft of the proposal, first reported on by The Post, praised the gulf for being “pivotal” in its maritime industry and in its “energy production, international commerce, tourism, fishing, and recreation.”
