Ohio lawmakers urge Trump to change Denali’s name back to Mt. McKinley

GOP lawmakers from Ohio are pressing President Trump to uphold a promise to reverse former President Obama’s decision and rename the Alaskan mountain Denali to its old name, Mt. McKinley.

In a letter to Trump, the 11 lawmakers say it was “disrespectful” for Obama to change the name of the mountain, which had been named after William McKinley, a former president from Ohio. The mountain was named after the 25th president in 1896.

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“President William McKinley’s legacy should not be compromised by a political stunt,” the letter signed by Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio) and other lawmakers stated. 

“Mr. President, we appreciate your comments opposing the Obama administration’s actions and stand ready to work with you to preserve William McKinley’s legacy by restoring President William McKinley’s name to the Alaska mountain.”

In 2015 Trump tweeted in response to Obama’s decision to change the mountain’s name, “President Obama wants to change the name of Mt. McKinley to Denali after more than 100 years. Great insult to Ohio. I will change back!”

Trump won the swing state of Ohio in the 2016 presidential contest by a relatively comfortable margin over Democrat Hillary Clinton. 

Members of Congress representing Alaska have resisted a name change. They say the mountain was named Denali by the native Athabascan people 10,000 years ago.

A Trump effort to reverse the name last year reportedly met stiff opposition from Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).

Last year, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke also told local press in Alaska that he thought the name of the mountain was “settled.” Adding, “On such decisions, I think Alaska has a say.”