A letter from Morocco's King Mohammed VI has confirmed that the country has named a major highway in honor of former U.S. President Donald Trump. The confirmation follows a social media post by Trump last week thanking the king for the honor, though no parallel announcement had been made by Moroccan authorities at that time.
Morocco's state press agency published the king's letter, dated July 2, which stated the name change was a "personal expression of my high regard." The highway, formerly known as the Tiznit-Dakhla highway, is a 1,055-kilometer (655-mile) route that runs through Western Sahara. This region is largely occupied and claimed by Morocco, though parts are controlled by the Polisario Front, a group seeking independence for the local Sahrawi people.
In 2020, during Trump's presidency, the United States recognized Morocco's claim over the disputed region as part of a U.S.-brokered deal for Morocco to normalize relations with Israel. King Mohammed highlighted this "historic recognition" in his letter, stating it would be "forever etched in the memory of Moroccans, from generation to generation." He also noted that relations between the U.S. and Morocco have been "never as vigorous and fruitful as during your two presidential terms."
The highway is described as a "strategic axis" linking the north and south of Morocco, which refers to Western Sahara as its "southern provinces." Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, has been the subject of a decades-long conflict and is considered a "non-self-governing territory" by the United Nations. The UN has advocated for a resolution, including a referendum, but the indigenous population has not had the opportunity to vote on their future. The African Union recognizes Western Sahara's independence.
Trump, in his Truth Social post last week, shared a video about the highway, noting its construction cost nearly $1 billion. He expressed anticipation for traveling the road, writing, "I look forward to traveling the entire length of this great highway someday, hopefully soon!"