President Trump is threatening to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit and Canada “until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them.”
In a post on Truth Social, Mr. Trump also demands that Canada “treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve.”
“With all that we have given them, we should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset. The revenues generated because of the U.S. Market will be astronomical,” the president added.
Mr. Trump criticized Canada, saying Ontario won’t put U.S. alcoholic products on its shelves and complaining of Canadian tariffs on U.S. dairy products, calling it “unacceptable.” The president also claimed that Prime Minister Mark Carney is trying to make a deal with China. Mr. Trump says Canada has treated the U.S. “unfairly for decades” and the bridge was being built with no U.S. content, such as steel.
The bridge has been under construction since 2018 and is expected to open in early 2026. It is jointly owned by Canada and the state of Michigan, with Canada financing the $5.7 billion project. The Canadian government planned to recoup the funding through toll revenue.
The bridge is intended to provide another route across the busy international border area between Michigan and Ontario, especially for commercial trucks. The other Detroit-Windsor crossings are the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.
The bridge includes an 853-meter span over the Detroit River, along with two approach bridges, port of entry complexes in the United States and Canada, and connection points to existing highways.
CBS News Detroit contacted the White House and Carney’s office for additional comment and is waiting to hear back. CBS News Detroit also contacted the Windsor–Detroit Bridge Authority for comment and has not yet heard back.
Windsor–Detroit Bridge Authority
Responses from Michigan and Canadian officials
In an emailed statement to CBS News Detroit, Candace Laing, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said:
“Whether this proves real or simply threatened to keep uncertainty high — blocking or barricading bridges is a self-defeating move.
“Through decades of collaboration, Canada and the United States build things together, create jobs together and compete globally together.
“The Trump administration was right in 2017 in its joint statement that endorsed the bridge as a priority project, calling it a ‘vital economic link between our two countries.’ Modern border infrastructure strengthens shared economic security.
“The path forward isn’t deconstructing established trade corridors, it’s actually building bridges.”
Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan released the following statement:
“The Gordie Howe Bridge is an incredibly important infrastructure project for Michigan. President Trump’s threat tonight to tank it is awful for our state’s economy.
“Canceling this project will have serious repercussions. Higher costs for Michigan businesses, less secure supply chains, and ultimately, fewer jobs. With this threat, the President is punishing Michiganders for a trade war he started. The only reason Canada is on the verge of a trade deal with China is because President Trump has kicked them in the teeth for a year.
“The President’s agenda for personal retribution should not come before what’s best for us. Canada is our friend — not our enemy. And I will do everything in my power to get this critical project back on track.”
Michigan’s other U.S. senator, fellow Democrat Gary Peters, issued a statement, saying,
“This statement from the President is completely backwards. Michigan’s economy is highly integrated with Canada and the Detroit-Windsor corridor is one of the busiest border crossings for trade in our entire country. We’ve wanted this bridge for years because it will be a boon for our economy. This is another case of the President undermining Michigan businesses and workers.”
Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan’s Sixth Congressional District issued the following statement:
“The Gordie Howe Bridge was built by union workers on both sides of the border. This border is the busiest crossing between our two countries, and has been critical for not only Michigan jobs but also American jobs. Not to mention Canada paid for this bridge. This bridge was negotiated by a Republican Governor, and in 2017 Trump endorsed the bridge calling it a “vital economic link between our two countries”. Nothing has changed. We cannot forget Canada is our friend and ally. We have to stop these cheap shots. It helps no one, and it especially hurts our economy. I look forward to the ribbon-cutting.”
Don Ufford, former head of Global Vehicle Engineering at Ford and a current candidate for Michigan’s 11th Congressional District said:
“Blocking the Gordie Howe Bridge will devastate our economy – especially our manufacturers and auto industry. This kind of chaos raises costs, disrupts supply chains, and puts good-paying Michigan jobs at risk … If President Trump wants to talk to someone who actually knows what it takes to build things in Michigan, he can give me a call.”
Michigan Democratic Party chair Curtis Hertel issued a statement that read in part:
“The Gordie Howe Bridge is a monumental bipartisan win for Michigan’s auto industry, economy, and our workers—including the thousands of union construction workers who have built the bridge. Even Donald Trump previously called it a ‘vital economic link’ between the U.S. and Canada.
“Trump started a reckless trade war, punched our state’s largest trading partner in the teeth, and is now trying to punish Michiganders even further for the chaos he created. Threatening to arbitrarily block the bridge from opening would amount to economic sabotage against Michigan, leading to higher prices, fewer jobs, and greater uncertainty for our state’s auto industry.”
Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s current secretary of state and a candidate for Michigan governor in the upcoming elections, issued the following statement:
“As the Governor’s office said, the bridge is going to open. I’m grateful for Governor Whitmer’s leadership and for serving as a guardrail against reckless, uninformed comments from the president. Statements like these only create chaos and confusion for the workers and families who are counting on this bridge for their jobs and livelihoods. But Michiganders are tough, and we won’t let anyone threaten our rights, our economic security, or our union-built bridges.”