A bill to name a proposed Mississippi River bridge after President Donald Trump has failed to advance in the Louisiana Senate, despite passing the state House. The legislation, introduced by Republican state Representative Michael Echols, would have designated the bridge connecting Highway 30 and Highway 1 as the 'President Donald J. Trump Expressway'.
The bill cleared the House in March with a 68–26 vote, but never received a Senate vote or committee referral before the legislative session ended on 1 June. Echols said Senate President Cameron Henry told him the Senate was not interested in naming bridges after presidents at this time. Echols expressed disappointment, arguing that the Trump name could have helped secure federal support for the project.
A separate bill by Democratic state Representative Pat Moore to name a stretch of Louisiana Highway 15 after President Barack Obama also failed to reach a floor vote. Louisiana is a Republican stronghold, with about 60% of voters backing Trump in the 2024 election.
Since returning to office, Trump has had several infrastructure projects named after him, including the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace and a renamed Kennedy Center. However, a federal judge recently ruled that the Kennedy Center rebranding was illegal, as only Congress has that authority.
In March, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law to rename several airports after Trump, including Palm Beach International Airport. That legislation has faced lawsuits, with critics citing safety risks and potential financial benefits for the Trump family. Eric Trump has denied any personal profit from the airport merchandise sales.
