The Trump administration has made headlines with the announcement of two major name changes to prominent US landmarks.
On Friday, the Interior Department officially renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and reverted the name of Alaska’s towering peak, Denali, to Mount McKinley.
The changes follow a series of executive actions signed by US President Donald Trump shortly after taking office on Monday, fulfilling a key campaign promise. “As directed by the President, the Gulf of Mexico will now officially be known as the Gulf of America and North America’s highest peak will once again bear the name Mount McKinley,” the Interior Department said in a statement.
The move restores the original name of Mount McKinley, which was named after President William McKinley, who served from 1897 to 1901. In 1975, the state of Alaska had successfully advocated for the name to be changed to Denali, meaning “tall” in the Koyukon Indigenous language. The decision to revert to Mount McKinley, according to the department, honours McKinley’s contributions during an era of significant US expansion. Trump himself praised McKinley in his inaugural address, calling him a “natural businessman” who enriched the nation through tariffs and territorial gains, such as Hawaii, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
“These changes reaffirm the Nation’s commitment to preserving the extraordinary heritage of the United States and ensuring that future generations of Americans celebrate the legacy of its heroes and historic assets,” the department stated.
However, the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico has drawn international attention and controversy. While Trump’s administration can instruct US agencies like the Geological Survey to adopt the name “Gulf of America,” the change is unlikely to be recognised globally. Mexico, which also borders the body of water, has opposed the decision. Mexican officials argue that the Gulf of Mexico is an internationally recognised name that has been used for centuries as a maritime navigational reference.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum offered a humorous response to the announcement, suggesting that North America could be renamed “Mexican America,” a term found on early maps of the region.
The name changes have sparked debates over historical preservation, international relations, and the balance between national pride and global recognition. Whether these changes will endure or face challenges remains to be seen.
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