Obama just changed the name of Alaska's tallest mountain. That really ticked off Ohio.
Hell hath no fury like an Ohioan scorned. Buckeye State lawmakers, including House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), are furious at President Obama's decision to change the name of Alaska's tallest peak from Mount McKinley to Denali, the mountain's native Athabascan name. Though Alaskans have referred to the mountain as Denali for years, and have had a request to change its name in the works since 1975, Ohioans are angry that the 25th president of the United States and native Ohioan will no longer take claim to the storied peak.
"I am deeply disappointed by this decision," Boehner said, adding that the mountain's title had been a "testament to [McKinley's] great legacy."
"This political stunt is insulting to all Ohioans, and I will be working with the House Committee on Natural Resources to determine what can be done to prevent this action," Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio) said.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"We must retain this national landmark's name in order to honor the legacy of this great American president and patriot," Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) agreed.
"The 25th president gets overlooked too much already. Would hope the president would find another appropriate way to honor McKinley." Karl Rove — not a native Ohioan — told Politico's Playbook. (Rove likely had a personal motivation for complaint, since his book on President McKinley comes out this fall).
Many Alaskans, however, are pleased with the decision. "I'll just point out that there's a lot of things in Ohio that are already named after McKinley," Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) told The Los Angeles Times. "This is no affront to our former president; this is all about ensuring that respect for the land and respect for the native people of the region is afforded."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
What will next year’s housing market look like?The Explainer Here is what to expect from mortgage rates and home prices in 2026
-
Is Trump in a bubble?Today’s Big Question GOP allies worry he is not hearing voters
-
‘Managed wildfires have spread out of control before’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump’s Comey case dealt new setbackspeed read A federal judge ruled that key evidence could not be used in an effort to reindict former FBI Director James Comey
-
Moscow cheers Trump’s new ‘America First’ strategyspeed read The president’s national security strategy seeks ‘strategic stability’ with Russia
-
Trump tightens restrictions for work visasSpeed Read The length of work permits for asylum seekers and refugees has been shortened from five years to 18 months
-
Supreme Court revives Texas GOP gerrymanderSpeed Read Texas Republicans can use the congressional map they approved in August at President Donald Trump’s behest
-
Boat strike footage rattles some lawmakersSpeed Read ‘Disturbing’ footage of the Sept. 2 attack on an alleged drug-trafficking boat also shows the second strike that killed two survivors who were clinging to the wreckage
-
Trump boosts gas cars in fuel economy rollbackspeed read Watering down fuel efficiency standards is another blow to former President Biden’s effort to boost electric vehicles
-
Hegseth’s Signal chat put troops in peril, probe findsSpeed Read The defense secretary risked the lives of military personnel and violated Pentagon rules, says new report
-
Trump pardons Texas Democratic congressmanspeed read Rep. Henry Cuellar was charged with accepting foreign bribes tied to Azerbaijan and Mexico
