Morocco recently announced the naming of a 1000 km road after former U.S. President Donald Trump, extending from the city of Tiznit to the occupied Sahrawi city of Dakhla. This significant infrastructure project, which connects the southern city of Tiznit to the occupied Sahrawi city of Dakhla, reportedly cost 880 million dollars. The road itself spans an impressive 1000 km, a considerable undertaking. Trump allegedly thanked King Mohammed VI of Morocco for the honor, with his message described by the article as bitter sarcasm. Trump stated, "شكرًا لصاحب الجلالة الملك محمد السادس، ملك المغرب، الذي يحظى باحترام كبير. إنه لشرف عظيم! أتطلع إلى السفر عبر كامل هذا الطريق السريع العظيم يومًا ما، وآمل أن يكون ذلك قريبًا."
The 'Trump Hysteria'
Many Moroccans reportedly expressed a preference for naming the upcoming stadium "Trump Stadium." Their reasoning included former President Trump's potential to fund the project, help resolve the Western Sahara issue in their favor, and exert pressure on FIFA to host the 2030 World Cup final. This sentiment notes a strong belief among some segments of the Moroccan population in Trump's influence and capacity to deliver on their national aspirations. Morocco announced plans to construct the world's largest football stadium in Casablanca, which will be named Hassan II Stadium. Despite the official naming, the public debate around a "Trump Stadium" shows the depth of this enthusiasm. The article claims Morocco has been in a "Trump hysteria" since Trump's rise to power, viewing him as a potential savior for various issues, including the Western Sahara dispute, classifying the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization, and influencing geopolitical and economic matters. This "Trump hysteria" suggests an almost unwavering faith in the former U.S. President's ability to shape outcomes favorable to Morocco.
Unfulfilled Promises and Minimal Gains
Trump's tweet in 2020 recognized autonomy for Western Sahara. Despite this move, six years have passed since the autonomy recognition tweet, and autonomy has not been implemented in Western Sahara. This lack of tangible progress on the ground, despite the high-profile declaration, raises questions about the long-term impact of such pronouncements. Trump had also allegedly promised Morocco he would open a consulate in the occupied Sahrawi city of Dakhla. This specific promise, alongside the broader recognition of autonomy, contributed to the heightened expectations among Moroccans regarding Trump's support. However, the article states that tangible benefits Morocco gained from Trump are almost non-existent. This assessment suggests that while rhetoric and promises were abundant, concrete, lasting advantages for Morocco have been scarce.
The article characterizes these gains as amounting to a series of tweets that disappear after 12 hours. This suggests a perceived lack of lasting impact from the former US President's pronouncements, implying that the perceived benefits were ephemeral and lacked substantive follow-through. The Moroccan news agency, however, celebrated a message allegedly from Trump to King Mohammed VI, renewing support for autonomy, further fueling the narrative of his continued backing. Trump himself expressed gratitude to King Mohammed VI, stating, "شكرًا لصاحب الجلالة الملك محمد السادس، ملك المغرب، الذي يحظى باحترام كبير. إنه لشرف عظيم! أتطلع إلى السفر عبر كامل هذا الطريق السريع العظيم يومًا ما، وآمل أن يكون ذلك قريبًا."
Bitter Sarcasm and Humiliating Deals
A message allegedly from former U.S. President Donald Trump, renewing support for autonomy, was celebrated by the Moroccan news agency. Following the road naming and this alleged message, 'Ayasha' pages, including intellectuals, called for a statue of Trump to be erected in Rabat, chanting "Erect a statue for Trump in Rabat." This public display of admiration shows the deep reverence some Moroccans hold for Trump, believing he is a key figure in advancing their national interests. The article claims Trump involved Morocco in a humiliating normalization with the Zionist entity, asserting this resulted in the entity's complete control over Morocco. Such a characterization paints a critical picture of the broader implications of Trump's diplomatic efforts in the region, suggesting that the deals struck were not entirely beneficial for Morocco. Trump expressed gratitude to King Mohammed VI, stating, "شكرًا لصاحب الجلالة الملك محمد السادس، ملك المغرب، الذي يحظى باحترام كبير. إنه لشرف عظيم! أتطلع إلى السفر عبر كامل هذا الطريق السريع العظيم يومًا ما، وآمل أن يكون ذلك قريبًا." The article describes Trump's thank-you message for the road naming as bitter sarcasm, adding another layer of interpretation to the complex relationship between the former U.S. President and Morocco.