The debate over renaming Denali—a peak sacred to Alaska Native groups—back to “Mount McKinley” has sparked considerable controversy. DBUNK LLC has analyzed this article from The New York Times to separate fact from misinformation, in response to a subscriber’s request. Published on January 22, 2025, the article discusses President Donald J. Trump’s announcement to revert Denali’s name to honor President William McKinley and the resistance it met from Alaskan lawmakers.

Fact Check Results: Misrepresentation and Missing Context

Misinformation Regarding McKinley’s Impact

The article attributes a quote to former President Trump in which he states, “President McKinley made our country very rich through tariffs and through talent.” While McKinley did advocate for protective tariffs through the McKinley Tariff of 1890 and the Dingley Act of 1897, historians contest this oversimplification of his impact on the nation’s economy. There is limited credible evidence linking McKinley’s policies directly to making the nation “very rich,” as Trump claims. Additionally, the mention that McKinley “gave Teddy Roosevelt the money for many of the great things he did, including the Panama Canal,” is factually inaccurate. The Panama Canal project was spearheaded during Roosevelt’s presidency (1901-1909), well after McKinley was assassinated in 1901. The casual attribution lacks historical accuracy and implies a deeper personal connection between McKinley and the canal project than exists.

Missing Historical Context Around “Denali”

The article fails to sufficiently explore the cultural and historical significance of “Denali,” the name given by Alaska’s Koyukon Athabascan people. Denali, which means “The High One” or “The Great One,” embodies deep cultural reverence and ancestral ties. Failing to highlight Denali’s role in Koyukon oral histories and traditions could leave readers without understanding why Alaska lawmakers—who include Republican senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan—would oppose reverting to “Mount McKinley.” Without this context, readers may mistakenly perceive the legislators’ positions as solely a political move or a rejection of Trump’s policies, rather than a bipartisan attempt to preserve Native heritage.

Bias Detected in Framing Alaska Lawmakers’ Opposition

While the article quotes both Alaska senators voicing opposition to Trump’s plan, it does not provide a complete picture of why they—and other Alaskans—support the name “Denali.” The omission of bipartisan support from local Alaskan stakeholders, including historians and park officials, could lead readers to assume the stance is limited to Murkowski and Sullivan’s personal beliefs. Furthermore, the framing suggests their opposition is an outlier among Republicans, which disregards the fact that “Denali” has had bipartisan approval since President Obama officially restored the name in 2015.

Answering Key Reader Question

Why are Alaska lawmakers, even Republicans, standing so firmly against Trump’s decision? What’s the significance of the name “Denali” to them?
Alaska lawmakers’ aversion to renaming Denali stems from a profound respect for the mountain’s historical and cultural significance. Denali holds a sacred position in the traditions of the Koyukon Athabascan people, one of Alaska’s Indigenous groups who have lived in the area for thousands of years. The name “Denali” is not merely descriptive but carries spiritual weight, symbolizing resilience and unity among Native communities.
The bipartisan rejection of Trump’s decision also reflects years of efforts to reassert Denali’s rightful name in honor of the Indigenous groups whose heritage predates McKinley by millennia. In 2015, the U.S. Department of the Interior officially reverted the name to Denali, signifying acknowledgment of Alaska Native culture and a commitment to rectify colonial impacts. Alaska lawmakers, knowing their state’s unique history and acknowledging the harm caused by stripping Indigenous names, have persisted in supporting Denali in order to safeguard this cultural legacy.

Conclusion

Upon examining the article, DBUNK identified instances of misinformation, missing context, and potential bias. It oversimplifies President McKinley’s historical role, fails to fully explain the cultural importance of “Denali,” and neglects the bipartisan, culturally informed nature of Alaskan legislators’ opposition. These omissions could mislead readers into undervaluing the significance of this issue.
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Read the original New York Times article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/22/climate/denali-mckinley-alaska-trump.html