US President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which connects Michigan in the United States to Ontario in Canada, unless Washington is “fully compensated for everything” it has provided to its northern neighbour.
Trump made the statement on social media, insisting that the bridge would not open until Canada treats the United States with “the Fairness and Respect that we deserve.” He claimed that the United States should own “at least one half of this asset” and criticised Canada for controlling both sides of the project.
The $6.4 billion Canadian-funded bridge spans the Detroit River and is publicly owned by both Canada and the state of Michigan, according to the project’s website. Construction began in 2018 following years of disputes between the two countries, and the bridge is expected to open to traffic in early 2026, pending final tests and regulatory approvals.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “The Canadian Government expects me, as President of the United States, to PERMIT them to just ‘take advantage of America!’ I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them.”
The nearby Ambassador Bridge, owned by the Moroun family, had previously lobbied Trump during his first term to halt construction of the new bridge, citing potential losses to their toll revenues. At the time, both Trump and then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the project as a “vital economic link.”
Trump also referenced recent trade disputes, including Canadian tariffs on US dairy products, which he called “unacceptable,” and criticised a recent Canada-China trade deal, adding a humorous aside about ice hockey and the Stanley Cup.
It remains unclear how Trump could legally prevent the opening of the bridge, but he indicated that negotiations between the two countries would begin immediately.
