President-elect Donald Trump plans to rename major American landmarks on his first day in office, signaling a bold shift in the nation’s identity and history.
At a Glance
- Trump to rename Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America
- Alaska’s Mount Denali to be renamed Mount McKinley
- Changes intended to honor “American greatness”
- Nearly 200 executive actions expected on Trump’s first day
- Moves align with Trump’s admiration for historical expansionist policies
Trump’s Bold Renaming Initiative
As Donald Trump takes office as the 47th President of the United States, he is set to make immediate and significant changes to America’s geographical landscape. Among his first actions will be the renaming of two major landmarks: the Gulf of Mexico and Mount Denali in Alaska.
And on Monday night, he signed the order.
These changes are part of a broader agenda aimed at redefining American identity and honoring past leaders who align with Trump’s vision for the country.
The Gulf of Mexico, a body of water bordering five U.S. states and known for its significant offshore petroleum production, will be renamed the Gulf of America. This move is seen as a statement on Trump’s stance on foreign relations, particularly with Mexico, and his emphasis on American energy independence. The renaming also aligns with Trump’s previous discussions on the matter and his intention to promote American interests in energy, commerce, and tourism.
In Alaska, Trump plans to reverse the 2015 decision by President Obama to change Mount McKinley’s name to Denali. The mountain was originally named after President William McKinley in 1917, a Republican president whom Trump greatly admires. The return to the name Mount McKinley is a nod to historical American leadership and expansionist policies that Trump has expressed admiration for in the past.
“McKinley was a very good, maybe a great president. They took his name off Mount McKinley, right? That’s what they do to people. Now, he was a great president, very good president. At a minimum, he was a very good businessman. He was a businessman, then a governor, very successful businessman,” Trump said.
This move highlights Trump’s reverence for past Republican leaders and his desire to honor what he perceives as successful business-minded presidencies. It also signals a departure from the recent trend of recognizing indigenous names and histories, as Denali was the name used by the Koyukon Athabaskans for the mountain.
A Broader Agenda for Change
These renaming initiatives are just a small part of Trump’s extensive plans for his first day in office. The President-elect is expected to sign nearly 200 executive actions immediately after his inauguration, demonstrating his commitment to swift and decisive change in line with his campaign promises.
“President Trump is bringing common sense to government and renewing the pillars of American Civilization,” the document stated, underlining the administration’s view that these changes are part of a larger effort to reshape American identity and governance.
The renaming of these landmarks is likely to spark debate and discussion across the nation. Supporters see it as a bold move to reassert American pride and values, while critics may view it as an unnecessary revision of established names and a potential source of diplomatic tension, particularly in the case of renaming the Gulf of Mexico.
As the nation prepares for this new era under President Trump, these early actions set the tone for an administration that promises to be unafraid of making significant changes in pursuit of its vision for America.
