Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness

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Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness
"Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness"
Seal of the President of the United States.svg
Type Executive order
Signed by Donald Trump on January 20, 2025
Federal Register details
Publication date20 January 2025
Summary
The executive order aims to rename national landmarks, including reinstating "Mount McKinley" and renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America".

"Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness" is an executive order signed by Donald Trump, the 47th President of the United States, on January 20, 2025, [1] the day of his second inauguration.

Contents

The executive order directs the reinstatement of the name "Mount McKinley" to the highest peak in North America, reversing the 2015 decision to call it by its centuries-old name Denali, and claims to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America". [2] [3] The order further outlines the process for updating the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, promotes the honoring of American historical figures, and includes provisions for consulting with relevant stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of national heritage and patriotism in the naming and renaming of landmarks.

Background

Denali–Mount McKinley

In August 2015, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced that the name would officially be reverted to Denali, meaning "the high one" in the Koyukon language and used by Indigenous peoples for centuries, in all federal documents. [4] [5] While on an Alaskan visit in the first week of September 2015, President Barack Obama announced the renaming of the mountain. [6] The Obama administration's proposal was met with criticism from the entire US Congressional delegation from Ohio (President McKinley's home state). [7]

In December 2024, President-elect Donald Trump stated that he planned to revert the mountain's official name to Mount McKinley during his second term. Trump's proposal was met with criticism from many prominent Alaskans. [8] [9]

U.S. Continental shelf of Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America

As chair of the United States Board on Geographic Names between 1999 and 2012, John R. Hébert received repeated proposals to rename the Gulf of Mexico from one individual. [10] The designation Gulf of America has also been used humorously, by comedian Stephen Colbert in 2010 as well as in a satirical 2012 bill by Mississippi lawmaker Steve Holland. [11]

During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the name "Gulf of America" applied to Nakhodka Bay in the Russian Far East, commemorating the Russian corvette America. [12]

In early January, President-elect Donald Trump made statements on renaming the gulf to "Gulf of America". Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia responded by introducing House Resolution 276 to rename the gulf. [13] [14]

An executive order signed by the president instructs renaming the U.S. shallow continental shelf area "extending to the seaward boundary with Mexico and Cuba" as the Gulf of America. [2] [3] The internationally recognized name of the Gulf of Mexico remains unchanged.

Provisions

The order emphasizes the importance of honoring American history and heritage by naming national landmarks in a way that recognizes the contributions of visionary and patriotic Americans.[ citation needed ]

Agency heads are directed to review and potentially replace their appointees to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (Board). The Secretary of the Interior is tasked with reviewing and making additional appointments to help implement the order. An appointment as acting secretary was made on January 20 by the incoming president on inaugural day. The Board is instructed to advance the policy of honoring American heroes in its naming and renaming decisions.[ citation needed ]

The order directs the Secretary of the Interior to reinstate the name "Mount McKinley" within 30 days, reversing the 2015 decision to rename it Denali. The surrounding national park area will retain the name Denali National Park and Preserve. The Secretary will also work with Alaska Native groups and local organizations to identify other landmark names that honor Alaskan history and culture.

The order directs the Secretary of the Interior to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" within 30 days, reflecting its importance to the U.S. economy and global commerce. The Secretary will update the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and ensure that all federal documents reflect the new name.

The Secretary of the Interior is encouraged to seek public and intergovernmental input regarding other figures or landmarks that could be honored, particularly in light of America's upcoming 250th anniversary.

The order clarifies that it does not alter the authority of any executive department or agency, nor does it create new legal rights. It must be implemented in accordance with applicable law and the availability of appropriations.

Implementation

On January 24, 2025, the Department of the Interior announced that the names Mount McKinley and Gulf of America are effective immediately for federal use, and that the Board on Geographic Names is working to update the Geographic Names Information System to reflect the order. [15]

Within the Board on Geographic Names, the Foreign Names Committee is responsible for maintaining the names of international waters such as the Gulf in the GEOnet Names Server. [16] [17]

Reactions

Both of Alaska's senators, Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, have responded negatively to the renaming of Mount Denali to Mount McKinley, with Sullivan stating that he preferred the name given to the mountain by the Koyukon Athabascan people, and Murkowski agreeing and stating that one cannot improve on the mountain's name. [18]

Sally Jewell, previously the Secretary of the Interior during the Obama administration, stated that she did not believe that Trump had the authority to change the name of the mountain, since it was under the authority of the US Board on Geographical Names. [18]

President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico said that her country and the rest of the world would continue to refer to Gulf of Mexico. [19] She had previously mocked the idea of renaming the gulf by suggesting that North America be renamed to "Mexican America" (Spanish : América Mexicana), citing the Constitution of Apatzingán. [20] [21]

On January 23, 2025, the Associated Press announced that its wire reports would continue to refer to Gulf of Mexico while acknowledging Gulf of America, but that they would begin referring to Mount McKinley instead of Denali. Maps and other graphics accompanying the reports would continue to label Gulf of Mexico for the time being. The AP Stylebook also permits Gulf and Gulf Coast. [22] [23] [24]

On January 27, 2025, Google announced that Google Maps would begin showing Mount McKinley as soon as GNIS is updated. Gulf of America would appear to users in the U.S., Gulf of Mexico to users in Mexico, and both to users elsewhere, apparently based on the internet connection location. [25]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denali</span> Highest mountain in North America, located in Alaska

Denali, officially known as Mount McKinley, is the highest mountain peak in North America, with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet (6,190 m) above sea level. It is the tallest mountain in the world from base-to-peak on land, measuring 18,000 ft (5,500 m). With a topographic prominence of 20,194 feet (6,155 m) and a topographic isolation of 4,621.1 miles (7,436.9 km), Denali is the third most prominent and third-most isolated peak on Earth, after Mount Everest and Aconcagua. Located in the Alaska Range in the interior of the U.S. state of Alaska, Denali is the centerpiece of Denali National Park and Preserve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denali National Park and Preserve</span> National park in Alaska, US

Denali National Park and Preserve, formerly known as Mount McKinley National Park, is a United States national park and preserve located in Interior Alaska, centered on Denali, the highest mountain in North America. The park and contiguous preserve encompass 6,045,153 acres which is larger than the state of New Hampshire. On December 2, 1980, 2,146,580-acre Denali Wilderness was established within the park. Denali's landscape is a mix of forest at the lowest elevations, including deciduous taiga, with tundra at middle elevations, and glaciers, snow, and bare rock at the highest elevations. The longest glacier is the Kahiltna Glacier. Wintertime activities include dog sledding, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. The park received 594,660 recreational visitors in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Board on Geographic Names</span> US geographic naming government agency

The United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) is a federal body operating under the United States Secretary of the Interior. The purpose of the board is to establish and maintain uniform usage of geographic names throughout the federal government of the United States.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Foraker</span> Mountain in Alaska, United States

Mount Foraker is a 17,400-foot (5,304 m) mountain in the central Alaska Range, in Denali National Park, 14 mi (23 km) southwest of Denali. It is the second highest peak in the Alaska Range, and the third highest peak in the United States. It rises almost directly above the standard base camp for Denali, on a fork of the Kahiltna Glacier also near Mount Hunter in the Alaska Range.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Hunter (Alaska)</span> Mountain in Alaska

Mount Hunter or Begguya is a mountain in Denali National Park in Alaska. It is approximately eight miles (13 km) south of Denali, the highest peak in North America. "Begguya" means child in the Dena'ina language. Mount Hunter is the third-highest major peak in the Alaska Range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laurence McKinley Gould</span> American geologist and explorer

Laurence McKinley Gould was an American geologist, educator, and polar explorer. He made expeditions to both the Arctic and Antarctic, and was chief scientist on Richard Evelyn Byrd's first Antarctic expedition, which Gould described in his 1931 book Cold: the Record of an Antarctic Sledge Journey. He served as president of Carleton College from 1945 to 1962, and president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1964. His namesakes include the research vessel Laurence M. Gould as well as Antarctic features including Gould Bay, Gould Coast, and Mount Gould.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gulf of Mexico</span> Marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denali–Mount McKinley naming dispute</span> Ongoing event in Alaskan history (since 1975)

The name of the highest mountain in North America became a subject of dispute in 1975, when the Alaska Legislature asked the U.S. federal government to officially change its name from "Mount McKinley" to "Denali". The mountain had been unofficially named Mount McKinley in 1896 by a gold prospector and officially by the federal government in 1917 to commemorate William McKinley, who was President of the United States from 1897 until his assassination in 1901.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muldrow Glacier</span> Glacier in Alaska, United States

Muldrow Glacier, also known as McKinley Glacier, is a large glacier in Denali National Park and Preserve in the U.S. state of Alaska. Native names for the glacier include, Henteel No' Loo' and Henteel No' Loot.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Eielson</span> Summit in Denali National Park

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References

  1. ↑ "Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness" (Press release). The White House. January 20, 2025. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Trump to make good on Gulf of America promise with bonkers executive order". The Independent. 2025-01-20. Retrieved 2025-01-21.
  3. 1 2 Rogero, Tiago (2025-01-20). "Can Trump really rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America?". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2025-01-21.
  4. ↑ U.S. Department of the Interior/Sally Jewell (August 28, 2015). "Order No. 3337: Change of the Name of Mount McKinley to Denali" (PDF) (Press release). U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  5. ↑ Campbell, Jon (August 30, 2015). "Old Name Officially Returns to Nation's Highest Peak". U.S. Board on Geographic Names (U.S. Geological Survey). Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  6. ↑ Davidson, Kate (September 6, 2015), Sarah Palin, Once Code-Named Denali, Likes McKinley Better, The Wall Street Journal , retrieved September 8, 2015
  7. ↑ Schuppe, Jon (August 31, 2015). "Mt. McKinley to Denali: How A Mountain's Renaming Got Tied Up in Politics". NBC News. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  8. ↑ "President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America's tallest peak". AP News. 2024-12-23. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  9. ↑ Hussain, Zoe (2024-12-23). "Trump vows to give tallest mountain its old name back" . Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  10. ↑ Jennings, Ken (2011). Maphead: Charting the Wide, Weird World of Geography Wonks. New York City: Charles Scribner's Sons. p. 72. ISBN   978-1-4391-6717-5 – via Internet Archive.
  11. ↑ Amy, Jeff (February 10, 2012). "Lawmaker Says 'Gulf of America' Bill Was a Joke". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, TX. p. 7. Retrieved January 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  12. ↑ Bogushevskaya, Victoria (2023). "Replaced but not forgotten: On Sinicised and Sinitic toponyms in Primoskij kraj" (PDF). Sulla via del Catai. 28. Trent: Centro Studi Martino Martini: 147.
  13. ↑ Fields, Ashleigh (January 9, 2025). "Greene introduces Gulf of America bill: 'It's our gulf'". The Hill . Washington, D.C. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
  14. ↑ DeSantis, Mark K.; Normand, Anna E. (January 27, 2025). Trump Administration Actions: Geographic Naming. CRS Reports (Report). Washington, D.C.: Congressional Research Service. p. 2. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
  15. ↑ Frazin, Rachel (January 24, 2025). "Feds implement 'Gulf of America,' 'Mount McKinley' name changes". The Hill . Washington, D.C. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  16. ↑ Bush, Aidan; Clifton, Libby (January 22, 2025). "Along Gulf Coast, Donald Trump's plan for 'Gulf of America' touches residents' pride; some wonder what difference will it make". Gainesville, Florida: WUFT-FM. Fresh Take Florida. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  17. ↑ Dave, Paresh (January 28, 2025). "Trump's 'Gulf of America' Order Has Mapmakers Completely Lost". Wired . San Francisco. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  18. 1 2 Friedman, Lisa (2025-01-22). "Denali or Mt. McKinley? Alaska Lawmakers Weigh In on Trump's Renaming Plan". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2025-01-23.
  19. ↑ "Mexico's president amused by Trump's order to rename the Gulf of Mexico". Associated Press. January 21, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  20. ↑ Janetsky, Megan (January 8, 2025). "Mexico's President Sheinbaum offers sarcastic response to Trump's 'Gulf of America' comment". Associated Press. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  21. ↑ Dale Leal, Nicholas (January 21, 2025). "De Golfo de México a Golfo de América: Trump renombra el mapa, aunque con improbables consecuencias internacionales" [From Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America: Trump renames the map, although with international consequences unlikely]. El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  22. ↑ Barrett, Amanda (January 23, 2025). "AP style guidance on Gulf of Mexico, Mount McKinley" (Press release). Associated Press. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  23. ↑ "The AP establishes style guidance on the Gulf of Mexico and Mount McKinley". Associated Press. January 23, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  24. ↑ Kellman, Laurie; Italie, Hillel (January 23, 2025). "Gulf of Whatnow? Trump's geographic renaming plans leave mapmakers pondering what to do next". Associated Press. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Google Maps to rename 'Gulf of Mexico' to 'Gulf of America' for US users". Reuters . January 27, 2025. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
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