The controversy over the name of Mount Denali dates back to the late 1800s, when a European-American gold prospector named William A. Dickey decided to name the mountain after William McKinley, a presidential candidate. This decision sparked a long-standing dispute, as many Alaskans, including indigenous groups and prominent figures, advocated for the name to honor the mountain’s original name, Denali, which means “the high one” in the Koyukon language.
The name “Mount McKinley” became official in 1917, largely due to the posthumous desire to honor McKinley after his assassination. However, calls to restore the name Denali intensified over the years, culminating in the 1970s when Alaska’s state government pushed for the change. Despite opposition from Ohio lawmakers, the effort gained momentum, and in 2015, the Obama administration officially renamed the peak Denali, citing the historical and cultural significance of the original name.
When President Donald Trump took office, he revived the debate by issuing an executive order in 2025 to change the name back to Mount McKinley, citing McKinley’s historical contributions, particularly his policies on tariffs. This move was met with resistance, especially from Alaska’s Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, as well as from many indigenous Alaskans, who consider Denali to be the rightful name for the peak.
The debate highlights a clash between honoring indigenous history and respecting the legacy of a U.S. president, with both sides offering compelling arguments rooted in history, politics, and cultural identity.
