Murkowski fights Trump with legislation renaming Mount McKinley ‘Denali’

By
Suzanne Downing
-
86

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski has escalated her ongoing dispute with President Donald Trump by introducing a bill that would officially recognize North America’s tallest peak as “Denali” in all U.S. government references.

The legislation would mandate that all federal laws, maps, regulations, and records refer to the mountain by the name long used by one set of Alaska Natives — the Koyukon Athabascans. Other Natives have used other names for the mountain, which was officially named McKinley by President Woodrow Wilson, who signed a law passed by Congress to name it after the president who had been assassinated.

“In Alaska, it’s Denali,” Murkowski affirmed in a press release. “Once you see it in person, take in its majesty, and breathe in its cold air, you understand why the Koyukon Athabascans called it ‘The Great One.’ This isn’t a political issue – Alaskans from all walks of life have long advocated for the rightful recognition of its name. That’s why today I once again introduced legislation to ensure ‘Denali’ remains its official name.”

The dispute over the mountain’s name dates back decades. In 1975, the State of Alaska officially recognized “Denali” and requested that the U.S. Board of Geographic Names follow suit. In 1980, Congress renamed Mount McKinley National Park as Denali National Park and Preserve. In 2015, President Obama’s Department of the Interior officially named the mountain Denali.

However, last month, Trump signed an executive order titled “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness,” directing the Department of the Interior to revert the mountain’s name to Mount McKinley.

Murkowski’s latest legislative effort follows a unanimous resolution passed by the Alaska State Senate recently, urging the President, the Secretary of the Interior, and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to maintain the name Denali.

Sen. Dan Sullivan signed onto the bill as a sponsor.

Some have suggested an unlikely compromise, with a tongue-in-cheek combination of words to name it Mount McNali.

86 COMMENTS

  4. Sounds like the princess simply wants to be in control of the situation…if she can’t then it seems the only logical conclusion in her mind is not allowing anyone to be happy.

  5. As I understand it, the Bamster changed the name via executive order during his reign as the all wise, all knowing first half n half POTUS. The Trumpster changed it back to what was already passed by House/Senate clear back 1917 as “An Act to establish the Mount McKinley National Park in the territory of Alaska” (Public Act No. 353).

    Sooooo, since the Bamster had no authority to change a law via EO, the Trumpster’s EO was simply a slap on the hand to the previous overlord’s overreach.

    If that is correct, then what Murky is doing is actually the constitutionally correct method to officially change the properly approved name to Denali..hardly a fight, more of a course correction but, hey, “If it bleeds, it leads” eh!?!

    • Congress locked in McKinley in 1980’s ANILCA when it renamed the larger park Denali while leaving the name of the mountain McKinley. Up to congress to change it.

      This is not Lisa fighting Trump. This is Lisa doing what she should have been doing since showing up in the Senate Dec 2002. Good on her. Finally. Cheers –

  8. Isn’t the state of our finances more important than the name of a mountain?
    The money laundering problem needs fixed more importantly at this time.
    She is trying to deflect the facts that her hand probably been in the cookie jar.

  9. I guess if she’s spending her time on this insignificant issue, then she’s staying out of the kitchen where it matters. Might be part of Trump’s plan in the first place.

  10. I’m Alaska Native. I like Mt McKinley. Rino Murkowski and seat warmer Sullivan are weak and woke minded and should stay home. We will vote you out.

  14. it seems a silly thing… most of us who have been here a long time always called it McKinley and still do …McKinley / Denali. we know what Mountain it is. it’s not worth arguing. Renaming Forts? Who even knew which base it was after that – except Fort Hood should be renamed Fort Murder we would absolutely know which base that is

  16. Of course she has.

    It’s kinda a win win for her. She gets to virtue signal to Democrats and beg Trump to notice her at the same time.

    • Oh, he’s going to notice her plenty. I expect another personal appearance in the next Senatorial election season. At least this nepotistic waste of oxygen has her priorities right.

  17. It will never occur to her it’s it’s that important, Congress has the power to officially rename it.

    But actually doing something that doesn’t involve pulling up to the pork trough isn’t her strong point.

  19. Should be up to the state and Alaska’s first people. President McKinley never stepped foot in Alaska.
    Summarize; States rights is a conservative concept. Denali!

    • Meh, I’m 4th generation Alaskan, so it’s always been Mt. McKinley to me, and I out rank you by a generation, so… listen to your elders. Besides, it’s not just the so-called “first people’s” land anymore. It’s also MY land, and her land, and those people over there’s land. You get my point.

      Frankly, you could call it a Ham on Rye and I wouldn’t really care, it’s a stupid thing to worry about.

    • Archeology has repeatedly shown your “first peoples” terminology to be inaccurate. Very few groups in the world are actually the first humans to inhabit the land where they currently reside.

  22. A perfect thing for the princess to focus on. Virtue signalling with no consequence. You GO girl!
    I’ve always called it McKinley because it makes my Lovely Accomplice’s Groovy and Organic co-workers cringe.

    • “……..A perfect thing for the princess to focus on. Virtue signalling with no consequence………..”
      My thoughts exactly. I hope this keeps her busy for the next four years.

  24. good to see everyone hating on Murkowski for representing the majority of Alaskans on an issue. Not an issue I really care about it. But it is time for our politicians to stand up and be honest with Alaskans. The ADN addressed the issue with a report on energy projects today. It is clear that Trump is doing what he said he would do. I get that he was elected. But where is this going for Alaskans? Trump cut funds to the USDA. So how does that affect our commercial fishing industry? I would imagine it introduces a level of uncertainty regarding price. Dunleavy gave his speech to the state and mentioned large energy construction projects funded through Biden’s programs. Are these no longer happening? We can all think how great it is that government workers are losing their jobs. But those same workers also support jobs in the private sector. 1986 the state cut the workforce and the economy pretty much crashed. Great for me but not for a lot of Alaskans who lost their homes and businesses. Dunleavy and Sullivan are talking about a golden age where ANWR and a gas line are going to bring great prosperity to our state. Does not seem to be much interest in ANWR. Maybe there will be a gas line but probably won’t be starting next year. Like it or not the Alaskan economy is tied to the federal government. Our politicians need to be honest with Alaskans on what to expect instead of talking about projects that may never happen.

    • “1986 the state cut the workforce and the economy pretty much crashed.”
      The economy crashed and then the jobs went away as a huge percentage of the states population left.
      I remember it, first hand.
      Putting a spin on historical facts calls into question the validity of all your comments.

      • You just repeated what I said. What spin did I put on it. Bankruptcies increased 50%. Yes jobs went away and people walked away from their homes. Close to 20000 foreclosures 1986 to 1988. What historical fact am I distorting.

        • The following line implies that the state’s cut to the workforce caused the economy to crash. “1986 the state cut the workforce and the economy pretty much crashed.” when the economy (oil prices, completion of the pipeline project, etc.) caused the economy to crash, and then as a result of the mass exodus, the state naturally cut the workforce.
          I may have taken your statement too literally, if so my apologies. But to me it reads that the cause and effect have been reversed. Perhaps if it had been worded;
          “the economy pretty much crashed and then the state cut the workforce.” it might be more accurate.

  26. Some of us have never stopped calling it McKinley.
    Great project for Lisa though. Lisa can work on that and screwing us less. Win/win

  28. Thirty or forty years ago I pulled over at the McKinley view point to enjoy the comforts of a porta-potty there in the turnout. A well intentioned construction crew member had locked the facilities and another individual had chosen to leave their mark directly behind the outhouse.

    It was a Great One and an important article of clothing was left behind to commemorate the event.

    The mountain though has never been called The Great One (or Denali). It’s been McKinley only for far more than a half century and no one ever referred to it as Denali from the 60’s when I first recall the mountain referred to by name on through to just prior to the president that botched up the name a while back.

    Murkowski is lying. Not much to win there.

  32. For MRAK readers, check out Daniel Greenfield’s article where he exposes Princess Lying Face (as if she has any other one). Google search “The Myth Of Mt. Denali” written January 2025. Perhaps it would be a good idea to send the link to Lisa herself?

  34. Doesn’t she have anything better to do? I guess not. She just could not help herself with a petty poke in the eye to Pres. Trump.

  36. Right now, the legal name is Mt. McKinley (ANILCA)

    To legally change it is via legislation.

    (Ir)regardless, I’ll continue to call it McKinley.

  39. I arrived here in 1968 Mt McKinley was the name. I have enjoyed that awe inspiring view for 56 years. I never called it Denali, always has been Mt McKinley. The park is Denali. Change the name back.

  40. The mountain was Denali before an Anglo know-nothing gold prospector named it McKinley because that was the first name he came across when he got back to civilization. McKinley was running for US president at the time. Congress confirmed the name in 1917 because it was named for an American president. I usually disagree with Murkowski, but on this one she is right. The first request to rename Mount McKinley to Denali came from Bushrat One, the father of the Permanent Fund himself, two-term Alaska Governor Jay Hammond, along with Alaskans of that period. Why is it more “American” to have everything named after prominent Anglo-Americans? What is wrong with having the historical names?

    • Uh no, not quite, and yes, sort of.

      While I’ll be the first guy standing in line criticizing the name McKinley, noting that President McKinley not only never even saw the mountain, he never visited Alaska either…except that if you study mountain naming conventions, neither is necessary.

      Thing is, despite whatever tales you’ve heard in elementary school (be it at a four-year college or right after kindergarten), the mountain, despite it’s panoramic dominance, was not named by ANYONE to include Alaska natives nor was it either seen by or revered by the vast majority of pre-1900 residents.

      So no, the fact is, except as a landmark for a very very few, nobody anywhere had a name for it in any language until fairly recently.

      A little perspective for you. There’s no food up there, it simply didn’t matter.

  42. I actually like ‘Denali, the Great one’. I’d like to keep it. This may be the only item I agree with Murkowski. Btw, there’s more than meets the eye with Trumps statement and I don’t think the imporant part is the name.

  43. “ Social Security up 7%, Medicare up 5%, and Medicaid up 9% because of rising costs per enrollee. President Trump has taken these programs off the reform list, which is like saying you want to go on a diet except for the beer, chips and ice cream sundaes.”

    WSJ on early FY 2025 gov outlays😆

  44. Perhaps a famous burger joint could sponsor the mountain, we could call it Big McNali. A mount’ by any other name would be but as big.

    • She may be a Senator from Alaska, but she rarely represents the people of Alaska. She needs to focus on more important concerns rather than the name of a mountain. I’ve lived here since the 60’s and the mountain has always been called Mt. McKinley, and even after the change to Denali most people who have lived here for any length of time still call it McKinley.

  48. Denali, McKinley? Finally a subject emerges that in its importance matches Princess Lisa’s abilities for which to engage!
    Trump, the master negotiator! The art of the deal. Hey Lisa, President Trump here, listen, I won’t insist on the name McKinley as long as you get out of the way of MAGA’s actions to include opening all oil production efforts in Alaska! And as Columbo used to say, uh mam, just one more thing, don’t go away mad dear, just GO AWAY!

  49. While the Country & the State of Alaska go to Hell all of the do nothing politicians worry about the name of Mt McKinley! Who originally translated the Name to English? Someone sharing a jug of Hootch!

  50. Of all that is happening in America and the world around us, our senior senator is spending her time on the name of a mountain. We would be better served if she was given a coloring book and a new box of crayons.

  51. That’s where her priorities have always been. And that’s why she needs to be voted out of office ASAP. Lisa, how about reassigning your priorities by supporting Alaska’s struggling dairy farmers instead? Something productive that will actually help Alaskans’ livelihoods.

  52. I don’t think that this would have been on President Trump’s radar at all. I would suggest that someone lobbied him to change the name. If so I wonder who and why???

  53. “Once you see it in person, take in its majesty, and breathe in its cold air, you understand why the Koyukon Athabascans called it ‘The Great One.’ Let’s compromise. If it needs to be called “The Great One”, let’s rename it “Mount Mark Levin!”

  54. Who cares what it’s called, McKinley, Denali, why would we worry about this. There are a bunch of businesses calling McKinley view etc. it’s just smoke and mirrors from our Democrat dip sticks. The louder they scream the closer we should look at their actions. Chuckie Schumer for instance.

  55. If names mean so much to these 2 maybe we should implement a law to re-name both of them to what they really are: leftist RINOs….looking at voting records would be all the proof we need to do that.

  56. It was McKinley when I was born in this state and it’s always been and always will be McKinley to me. Murkowski is just pandering to a minority special interest group. Too much of that goes on in this state.

  57. I definitely like Mt McKinley. And I’m for pulling murky’s chain anyway possible and undoing anything barak hussein did. Keep poking them, President Trump! So much fun watching the demorats and RINO’s vasilate.

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