Did you know that the names of places can change? New York City used to be called New Amsterdam. There’s a big city in Turkey that’s called Istanbul today. It used to be called Constantinople.
In January of this year, President Trump changed the name of two places in and around the United States.
The tallest mountain in North America is in Alaska. This mountain was named Mount McKinley in 1917. It was named for President William McKinley. But many people who live there called it by a different name. In 2015, President Obama officially changed the mountain’s name to Denali. Denali means “the great one” in the language of the Indigenous people that live near the mountain.
In January 2025, President Donald Trump changed the name back to Mount McKinley. He wanted to honor the former President. But not everyone likes the change. Many people want to keep the name Denali. Lisa Murkowski is a US Senator from Alaska. She wants to make a law that the name will stay Denali. She believes that “The Great One” is the best name for the magnificent mountain.
Much of the southern United States is bordered by a large body of water. Many people call this body of water “The Gulf.” It touches the states Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. It also touches the nations of Mexico and Cuba. This body of water has been known as the Gulf of Mexico for a very long time. In January, President Trump changed its name to the Gulf of America.
Some people like the change. They believe the new name shows how important the United States is. But some people don’t like the new name. They say it doesn’t solve any problems. Some think people in Mexico won’t like the new name.
What Do You Think? Do you think changing these names is a good idea? Why or why not?
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