The Trump administration renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America and restored Alaska's peak name to Mount McKinley, sparking international reactions and historical debates.
The Interior Department under the Trump administration announced on Friday that it had officially renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America and restored the name Mount McKinley to Alaska’s highest peak, formerly known as Denali.
President Donald Trump initiated these changes through executive orders shortly after his inauguration on Monday, fulfilling a campaign pledge.
"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," stated the Interior Department.
The Alaskan peak, previously named Mount McKinley to honor President William McKinley, was renamed Denali in 1975 at Alaska’s request. Denali means "tall" in the Koyukon Indigenous language.
"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 explained.
In his inaugural address, Trump praised McKinley, who served as president from 1897 to 1901, for his role in expanding the nation’s wealth. He described McKinley as a "natural businessman" who "made our country very rich through tariffs and through talent." McKinley’s presidency oversaw an expansionist period that brought Hawaii, Guam, and Puerto Rico under U.S. control, with Hawaii later becoming a state.
Mexico, which shares a long coastline with the Gulf of Mexico, has emphasized that the current name is internationally accepted and has been used for centuries in maritime navigation.
Earlier this month, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum humorously proposed renaming North America, including the United States, as "Mexican America," referencing a historical map of the region.
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