Trump warns he may block opening of US–Canada bridge

President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of a major bridge linking the United States and Canada, insisting that Washington must be “fully compensated” for what he described as long-standing imbalances in the relationship between the two countries.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge, which connects Ontario in Canada to Michigan in the United States, would not be allowed to open until Ottawa treats the US with what Trump called “fairness and respect.” He made the remarks in a post on social media.

Project details show that the bridge is being financed by the Canadian government, while ownership will be shared by Canada and the US state of Michigan.

Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin criticised the threat, warning that blocking the opening of what she described as a vital infrastructure project would harm the state’s economy. She said such a move could raise costs for businesses, weaken supply chains, and lead to job losses.
It remains unclear how the US president could prevent the bridge from opening, though Trump said negotiations would begin immediately without providing further details.

The bridge spans the Detroit River and is expected to open to traffic later this year, pending final testing and regulatory approvals. Construction began in 2018, following more than a decade of debate between both countries. The project is estimated to have cost about 6.4 billion Canadian dollars.

Trump also argued that the United States should own at least half of the bridge, suggesting that Canada currently controls both sides of the structure. The agency overseeing the project, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, is wholly owned by the Canadian government.

In his remarks, Trump accused Canada of seeking to take advantage of the United States and said he would not permit the bridge to open until compensation demands are met. He also blamed former President Barack Obama for allowing construction to proceed without the use of US-produced steel.

Canadian officials rejected that claim, with Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens dismissing it as inaccurate.
The project has faced opposition in the past from the Moroun family, owners of the nearby Ambassador Bridge, who had argued that the new crossing would undermine their toll operations. During Trump’s first term, he and then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau jointly described the bridge as a critical economic link between the two countries.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer also pushed back against the threat, describing the bridge as a major driver of jobs and economic growth, and praising it as a product of bipartisan and international cooperation.

Trump linked his position to broader trade disputes, criticising Canada’s dairy tariffs and warning against closer trade ties between Canada and China. Canadian authorities involved in the project had not issued immediate responses at the time of reporting.