Sen John Cornyn proposes renaming major interstate highway in honor of Trump
WASHINGTON, DC: Senator John Cornyn is making a very public show of loyalty to President Donald Trump as he battles to survive a heated Republican Senate runoff in Texas.
On Tuesday, Cornyn introduced legislation that would rename US Highway 287 as Interstate 47 in honor of Trump, a move that immediately drew attention because the Texas senator is still waiting for the president’s endorsement in his runoff race against Attorney General Ken Paxton.
I am proud to introduce legislation to rename US Highway 287 as Interstate 47 in honor of our 47th President @realDonaldTrump.
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) May 12, 2026
My bill will upgrade one of our nation’s longest highways to a future interstate and save more than $5 BILLION in travel costs, all while honoring the… https://t.co/Ua8lxoZUeN
John Cornyn says Donald Trump deserves nearly 1,800 miles of highway in his honor
Cornyn announced the proposal in a post on X, where he framed the legislation as both an infrastructure improvement and a tribute to Trump’s presidency.
“I am proud to introduce legislation to rename US Highway 287 as Interstate 47 in honor of our 47th President @realDonaldTrump,” Cornyn wrote.
The proposed interstate stretches roughly 1,791 miles from Choteau, Montana, to Port Arthur, Texas. According to The Hill, the bill is also co-sponsored by Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming.
Cornyn argued the project would provide major economic benefits while also permanently linking Trump’s name to one of the country’s longest highways.
“My bill will upgrade one of our nation’s longest highways to a future interstate and save more than $5 BILLION in travel costs, all while honoring the most effective and influential president of our lifetime,” Cornyn continued.
The Texas Republican also leaned heavily into Trump’s popularity among conservative voters in the state.
“Texas is Trump Country & this bill cements @POTUS’ legacy by designating nearly 1,800 miles of open road to forever be known as the Trump Interstate,” he added.
Donald Trump's endorsement remains central to John Cornyn and Ken Paxton's runoff fight
Cornyn is currently locked in a tense Senate runoff battle against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton after neither candidate secured more than 50 percent support during the original Republican primary.
Representative Wesley Hunt was also part of the race before being eliminated, leaving Cornyn and Paxton to battle for the nomination in what has become one of the most closely watched Republican contests in the country.
Throughout the race, Trump’s endorsement has remained one of the biggest unanswered questions hanging over both campaigns.
The president has repeatedly hinted that he plans to endorse either Cornyn or Paxton but has so far stopped short of publicly backing either candidate.
As recently as Saturday, Trump avoided taking sides while speaking to reporters.
“We have a great Attorney General Ken Paxton,” Trump said. “And we have a great senator, John Cornyn.”
That uncertainty has only intensified speculation over how far Republican candidates may go to win Trump’s support.
Highway proposal highlights loyalty politics shaping today’s Republican Party
The bill also reflects how symbolic gestures tied to Trump continue shaping Republican politics nationwide.
Rather than focusing solely on policy differences with Paxton, Cornyn’s proposal appeared designed to publicly reinforce his alignment with Trump and remind voters of his support for the president’s agenda.
At the same time, the legislation gave Cornyn an opportunity to present himself as both pro-Trump and focused on infrastructure improvements that could benefit Texas economically.
A 2025 study by the Texas Department of Transportation found that upgrading the highway into an interstate could reduce travel times by 7.37 percent by 2050 while generating an estimated $5.4 billion in travel cost savings.
