Trump urges naming $3.2bn Mobile River Bridge after himself at Alabama rally
At a Mobile rally, Trump said the $3.2 billion bridge project could bear his name, while noting both Trump‑era loans and a Biden‑era grant funded the work.
By Felo News Desk · Published
President Donald Trump told a crowd in Mobile, Alabama, that the $3.2 billion Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project could be named after him, according to two Independent reports published on 3 October 2026.
What happened
The rally took place on Friday night, 2 October 2026, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Interstate‑10 corridor bridge linking Mobile and the Eastern Shore. Trump said the bridge was "made possible by $3 billion dollars in funding from the Trump administration" and added, "Maybe they'll name the damn bridge after me." The ceremony also featured Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who announced a $2.52 billion loan under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act to cover most of the project’s cost. A $550 million grant awarded by the Biden administration in July 2024 was finalized in May 2025.
What the reports add
Both Independent articles note that the bridge is part of a larger $3.2 billion Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project. The first article emphasizes Trump’s claim of full credit and his plan to return the following weekend for a football match, while the second article provides the exact quote from Trump about the funding and includes a statement from Alabama Democratic Representative Shomari Figures thanking the Trump administration. Both pieces cite Duffy’s loan announcement and the earlier Biden‑era grant.
What was said
"All made possible by $3 billion dollars in funding from the Trump administration, and we were proud to do it," Trump said, as reported by the Independent.
"Maybe they'll name the damn bridge after me," he added.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he "helped break ground on the brand new I‑10 corridor and bridge project connecting Mobile and Eastern Shore."
Representative Shomari Figures told the Independent, "I do want to thank the Trump administration for their role in getting us here."
How it came about
The bridge project has been financed through a combination of federal sources. A $2.52 billion loan was announced by Secretary Duffy last month, while a $550 million grant from the Biden administration was awarded in July 2024 and finalized under Trump in May 2025. The rally follows a series of Trump events that have highlighted infrastructure achievements, including a manufacturing rally in Texas on 1 October 2026, which Felo covered in trump-texas-rally-best-numbers.
Key facts
- Trump suggested the $3.2 billion Mobile River Bridge be named after him at a rally in Mobile, Alabama. (independent.co.uk)
- The project is funded by a $2.52 billion loan announced by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and a $550 million Biden‑era grant finalized in May 2025. (independent.co.uk)
- Alabama Democratic Representative Shomari Figures thanked the Trump administration for its role in the project. (independent.co.uk)
Timeline
- 2024-07-01 — Biden administration awarded $550 million grant for Mobile River Bridge project.
- 2025-05-01 — Grant finalized under Trump administration.
- 2026-09-01 — Sean Duffy announced $2.52 billion loan for the bridge project.
