A scenic stretch of Interstate 40 in East Tennessee is about to get a new namesake. The bridge that carries I-40 over the French Broad River near Dandridge will officially be named after President Donald Trump, with a dedication ceremony set for July 9.
The bridge sits in a picturesque spot, crossing the river with the Great Smoky Mountains visible in the background and Douglas Lake just next door. A lineup of high-profile officials is expected to attend the dedication, including U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, state Sen. Jessie Seal and state Rep. Jeremy Faison, according to a news release from the Department of the Treasury.
The naming comes as the Tennessee Department of Transportation prepares to rebuild the bridge entirely. Construction is set to begin this year, with a completion date targeted for September 2029. TDOT plans to build the new structure on existing state property, adding a small amount of new land on the east side. The U.S. Department of Transportation is covering design costs, while TDOT will handle construction expenses.
This bridge joins a growing list of buildings, streets and landmarks around the country that have been renamed for Trump. In Washington, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts had Trump’s name added in December after he took over the board, though a judge later ordered it removed. Florida renamed a stretch of Southern Boulevard near Mar-a-Lago as President Donald J. Trump Boulevard, and Palm Beach International Airport is now named after him as well following legislation signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The United States Institute of Peace building in Washington also now bears his name.
Beyond buildings, Trump’s influence has shown up in other places too. His signature will soon appear on U.S. paper currency starting with the $100 bill, a first for a sitting president. A commemorative gold coin featuring his image is part of a series marking America’s 250th birthday, and some 2026 National Park Service passes feature his portrait alongside George Washington’s. Savings accounts for babies born between 2025 and 2028, once called “MAGA accounts,” were renamed “Trump accounts” during the legislative process. The administration also launched TrumpRx, a website meant to help Americans find lower prescription drug prices.
Tennessee nearly saw its own Trump-named street back in 2023, when lawmakers proposed renaming a portion of Nashville’s Rep. John Lewis Way after the president. That effort was withdrawn after backlash, since the street had been renamed in 2020 to honor the civil rights leader who helped lead sit-ins along that very corridor. A similar attempt this year in Louisiana to name a Mississippi River bridge after Trump also failed.
For now, the French Broad River bridge dedication moves forward as planned, with officials set to gather Thursday for the ceremony.