Donald Trump… The President Whose Name Is Etched in Gold in the Memory of Moroccans

By Gaïtha Hafiani

In a heartfelt wave of popular gratitude, Moroccan activists have taken to social media calling for a street in the capital, Rabat, to be named after former U.S. President Donald Trump. The initiative, they say, is meant to honor what they describe as his “historic and courageous stance” that forever changed the trajectory of the Moroccan Sahara issue.

In December 2020, Trump made an unprecedented move in the history of Moroccan–American relations by officially recognizing Morocco’s full sovereignty over its southern provinces. Many analysts hailed the decision as one of the most significant diplomatic breakthroughs in a dispute that had remained unresolved for decades within the corridors of the United Nations.

According to diplomats, the move went far beyond a political declaration — it represented a strategic shift in the international balance of power in Morocco’s favor. It positioned Washington firmly on the side of Morocco’s territorial integrity and sent a powerful message to the international community that the Kingdom’s 2007 autonomy plan constitutes the only realistic and lasting solution to the conflict.

Following Trump’s decision, a wave of international support for Morocco gathered momentum. Several countries from Africa, Latin America, and Europe opened consulates in the cities of Laâyoune and Dakhla — a concrete acknowledgment of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara. Bilateral cooperation between Rabat and Washington also deepened in key areas such as security, defense, and investment, elevating relations to the level of a robust strategic partnership.

Moroccans have not forgotten that momentous gesture. Trump’s name continues to be mentioned with respect whenever the evolution of Morocco’s national cause is recalled. While many world leaders opted for cautious neutrality, Trump was the one who had the political courage to say what others would not: “The Sahara is Moroccan.”

Social media users, addressing their messages to the Mayor of Rabat, have proposed renaming “Algeria Street” to “Donald Trump Street,” reflecting the sentiments of many Moroccans who view this gesture as a symbolic act of loyalty and gratitude to a leader who supported their national cause at a critical juncture.

These calls underscore the growing diplomatic awareness among Moroccans, who fully recognize the magnitude of Trump’s impact on how the world now perceives the Moroccan Sahara. His decision, and the diplomatic momentum that followed, helped reinforce Morocco’s position within the United Nations — most recently through a Security Council resolution that effectively acknowledged Moroccan sovereignty and reaffirmed that the autonomy plan remains the only viable solution.

While renaming a street may seem symbolic, the underlying message carries far greater weight: the Moroccan people do not forget those who stood by their territorial integrity with sincerity and courage.

Donald Trump has inscribed his name in golden letters in the annals of modern Moroccan history — as a U.S. president who stood for truth and justice, and who reshaped the diplomatic balance in favor of the Kingdom of Morocco.