Martina Navratilova denounces Donald Trump for seeming native population disregard as he vows to rename Denali to Mount McKinley

US President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to rename Alaska's Mount Denali, the tallest mountain in the United States, back to Mount McKinley in honor of the 25th U.S. President, William McKinley, who was assassinated in 1901. The decision, however, drew criticism from tennis legend Martina Navratilova.

The mountain peak now known as Denali holds deep cultural and historical significance for the native Koyukon Athabascans. It was originally named McKinley but was renamed Denali in 2015 by then-President Barack Obama, in support of the native community.

However, the current president, Donald Trump, aims to reverse this change and restore the name to Mount McKinley.

"They took his name off Mount McKinley. He was a great president," Trump said in a speech to supporters in Phoenix on Sunday (via The Guardian).

Nate Fischer, the CEO of New Founding Ventures, reshared journalist Eric Daugherty's post with this update. He wrote:

"This will be an important move—a symbolic re-embrace of our national heritage."

Navratilova, however, criticized the decision.

"National heritage that was racist AF, you mean?" she asked.

"McKinley was a good president and it is good to honor him," Fischer replied.

The 68-year-old responded that the decision would disregard the native heritage. She suggested honoring McKinley elsewhere while respecting the cultural significance of Denali.

"What is wrong with Mt. Denali? This should not be a “well, he was a good guy.” Name something else after McKinley while honoring and respecting those who lived there first. What is wrong with that? Nothing," Navratilova wrote.

During the U.S. Presidential elections, Martina Navratilova consistently opposed the Republican Party and future President Donald Trump.

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Martina Navratilova criticizes Donald Trump's triumph in 2024 Presidential election

Martina Navratilova pictured at the 2024 French Open | Image Source: Getty

Donald Trump secured victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential election, with the results announced on November 5. Trump, the 47th president, led the Republicans to 312 seats, while Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democrats won 226 seats.

This development left Martina Navratilova fuming.

" Well, Trump won. Fear and anger won. And a country that was born as a racist patriarchy proved beyond any reasonable doubt it still is a racist patriarchy. Not sure when this ceases to be true," the 18-time Grand Slam champion wrote on X.

In addition to Martina Navratilova, former US Open champion Andy Roddick has also been a frequent critic of the Republican Party.