Overview

• President Trump restored the name Mount McKinley to Alaska’s tallest peak, reversing its 2015 renaming to Denali under President Obama.
• Trump praised McKinley as a 'great president' who advanced American wealth through tariffs and territorial expansion, drawing comparisons to his own policy goals.
• McKinley’s administration oversaw key events such as the Spanish-American War, the annexation of Hawaii, and the acquisition of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico, establishing the U.S. as a global power.
• Trump’s rhetoric suggests ambitions for territorial and economic growth, including references to reclaiming the Panama Canal and exploring U.S. influence over Greenland.
• While McKinley shifted toward reciprocal trade agreements later in his presidency, Trump’s approach to tariffs and diplomacy contrasts with McKinley’s measured and methodical style.