Say goodbye to âMt. McKinley. The highest U.S. peak is getting an official name change: http://t.co/I9FfurdnmRpic.twitter.com/6UD9N4knc1 CNN (@CNN) August 31, 2015 Continuing to flex his executive muscle during his final term as commander-in-chief, President Barack Obama announced Sunday that Alaskaâs Mount McKinley was being renamed Denali.The president used his executive power to restore the mountain to its âAlaska Native name, which has deep cultural significance to the tallest mountain in North America,â reports The New York Times.