Trump claims Morocco names major highway after him amid Western Sahara politics

In a Truth Social post, Donald Trump thanked King Mohammed VI and expressed eagerness to travel the “Great Highway” that Morocco reportedly named after him. The Tiznit-Dakhla highway, a $1 billion, 1,055-km corridor completed in January, traverses the Western Sahara region that Morocco controls and connects to Mauritania and the planned Dakhla Atlantic Port. The naming follows years of U.S. diplomatic backing, including the 2020 Abraham Accords and a 2025 UN Security Council resolution championed by the Trump administration.

Experts suggest the honor may be tied to Morocco’s aspirations to co-host the 2030 World Cup and to showcase recent infrastructure milestones. The project is central to Morocco’s “Atlantic Initiative,” seeking to channel African trade through its ports. Critics note the highway reinforces Morocco’s claim over a territory long disputed with the Algeria-backed Polisario Front. The United States Department of Commerce recently announced funding for an ammonium project in the same area, adding an economic dimension to the conflict.