U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning, threatening to halt the inauguration of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, set to be the latest link between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit. In a statement on Monday, Trump insisted on full compensation for the U.S. contributions and emphasized the importance of fair and respectful treatment from Canada. The White House was contacted by CBC News for additional details, but no response was received by Monday evening.
The President’s remarks were part of a lengthy online post where he accused Canada of unfair treatment towards the U.S. over the years. He expressed discontent with the bridge construction, alleging minimal U.S. involvement and criticized Prime Minister Mark Carney for pursuing a trade deal with China. Trump suggested that given the U.S.’s contributions, they should have a significant share in the bridge ownership.
The construction of the $6.4 billion Gordie Howe bridge has been fully financed by the Canadian federal government. However, the bridge is jointly owned by Canada and the state of Michigan. The project, managed by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority through a public-private partnership, began in 2018. While major construction has concluded, final testing and inspections are pending, with the bridge’s opening anticipated in the early part of this year.
The Gordie Howe Bridge has been at the center of a lengthy legal dispute between the American owners of the existing Ambassador Bridge and the federal government. Despite previous opposition, Trump voiced support for the new bridge as a key project in 2017, emphasizing its economic significance in a joint declaration with then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens contradicted some of Trump’s claims, highlighting the use of U.S. steel from the Michigan side in the bridge’s construction. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer defended the bridge, underscoring the employment opportunities it has generated for unionized workers on both sides of the border.
Senator Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat, criticized Trump’s threat to obstruct the bridge’s opening, citing negative economic consequences for the state. Despite previous warnings on social media, Trump has not taken concrete actions on his threats towards Canada. However, he retains the authority to impede the bridge’s inauguration with a presidential directive.
Named after the iconic hockey player Gordie Howe, the bridge aims to enhance border crossing efficiency for commercial vehicles and save significant time for truck traffic annually, according to an economic assessment commissioned by the bridge authority.