On January 24, the Trump administration's Interior Department announced the official renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and the Alaskan peak Denali to Mount McKinley.
The President ordered these changes shortly after taking office on Monday, fulfilling a campaign promise. The Interior Department stated, "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 peak was originally named Mount McKinley after former U.S. President William McKinley but was changed to Denali, meaning 'tall' in the Koyukon Indigenous language, in 1975 at the state's request.
The Interior Department emphasized that these changes reflect a commitment to preserving the nation's heritage and honoring its heroes and historic landmarks for future generations to cherish.
President Trump praised McKinley in his inaugural address, highlighting his economic policies and expansionist efforts that led to the acquisition of territories like Hawaii, Guam, and Puerto Rico during his presidency.
Although the U.S. can internally modify the naming conventions through directives to the U.S. Geological Survey, international recognition for such changes, especially concerning the Gulf of Mexico, may not be forthcoming.
Mexico has highlighted the longstanding international recognition of the Gulf of Mexico's name, emphasizing its significance as a maritime navigational reference spanning many centuries around a body of water shared by both countries.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum playfully proposed an alternative historic name, "", for North America, including the United States, referencing an early map of the region.