Is John Cornyn trying to flatter his way to Trump’s endorsement?
By Easton Martin | May 13, 2026
U.S. Senator John Cornyn introduced legislation this week to rename U.S. Route 287 as the Trump Interstate. The bill proposes designating the 1,791-mile highway as Interstate 47 in honor of Donald Trump, the 45th and 47th president of the United States. This route begins on the Texas Gulf Coast in Port Arthur and continues through Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming, and Idaho before ending in Montana.
The senator stated that the measure would upgrade the road to a future interstate, which he believes will improve freight movement and rural safety.
According to a 2025 feasibility study from the Texas Department of Transportation, converting the highway could lead to $5.4 billion in travel cost savings and generate over 46,000 jobs by 2050. Cornyn described the project as a way to recognize the legacy of a president he called influential and effective.
The proposal arrives as Cornyn faces a competitive Republican runoff election against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on May 26. Neither candidate received a majority in the March primary, leading to the current contest. To date, Trump has not issued a formal endorsement in the race, though both candidates have sought his public support throughout the campaign.
What Cornyn is doing is enacting his grand plan of political grandstanding. Let’s be honest, he would absolutely not do this if he were not vying for the president’s endorsement, and especially not if he does not end up receiving it. He knows how to cater the president and flatter him, but will it work?
