President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of a major bridge linking the United States and Canada unless Washington is “fully compensated” for what he claims the U.S. has given its northern neighbour.
In a post on social media, Trump said the Gordie Howe International Bridge — connecting Ontario and Michigan — would not open until Canada treats the U.S. with what he called “fairness and respect.”
The bridge is funded by the Canadian government but will be publicly owned by Canada and the state of Michigan, according to the project’s website. It spans the Detroit River and is expected to open later this year pending final testing and approvals. Construction began in 2018 and the project is estimated to have cost $6.4 billion.
Michigan Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin warned that blocking the bridge would hurt the state’s economy, citing higher costs for businesses, weaker supply chains and job losses.
It remains unclear how Trump could prevent the opening, though he said negotiations would begin immediately. Trump also argued the U.S. should own at least half of the bridge and criticized the project’s origins under former president Barack Obama.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens dismissed Trump’s claims as false, calling them “insane.”
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer also pushed back, saying the bridge represents bipartisan and international cooperation and is good for jobs on both sides of the border.
