HAMILTON, Canada
The Gordie Howe International Bridge, a $4 billion infrastructure project connecting Windsor in the Canadian province of Ontario, to Detroit in the US state of Michigan, has emerged as a major flashpoint in strained bilateral relations as Donald Trump threatened to block its opening scheduled for early 2026.
In a post on Truth Social, the US president criticized the project, alleging Canada built the bridge with "virtually no US content" and warning that Washington would not allow it to open without fair compensation.
Trump warned that the project would not proceed unless Washington's demands are met. "I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them, and also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve," he said.
While White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt backed Trump's post and said that "this is just another example of President Trump putting America's interests first," Trump’s second term marks a sharp deviation from his first-term approach.
In his first term, Trump publicly backed the project with then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a joint statement as part of a broader infrastructure cooperation agenda.
"The United States and Canada recognize the importance of co-operation to promote economic growth, provide benefits to our consumers and businesses and advance free and fair trade," said the statement.
"Given our shared focus on infrastructure investments, we will encourage opportunities for companies in both countries to create jobs through those investments. In particular, we look forward to the expeditious completion of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which will serve as a vital economic link between our two countries."
Named after late Canadian hockey legend
The bridge, named after Canadian hockey icon Gordie Howe, is based on the Canada-Michigan Crossing Agreement, signed in 2012 between the governments of Canada and Michigan, who will also own it jointly.
Under the agreement, Canada financed the design and construction of the bridge, including customs facilities on the US side of the border. Construction costs exceed $4 billion, and toll revenues are intended to recover the expenses over time.
It is expected to improve supply chain reliability, reduce congestion and strengthen economic integration between the two countries.
Each country retains sovereignty over its own territory, and the agreement sets out how the crossing will be operated and maintained once it opens.
'Great example of cooperation'
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has defended the legal and financial framework underpinning the project, and said he spoke directly with Trump following the dispute, describing their conversation as "positive."
"We discussed the bridge. I explained that Canada, of course, paid for the construction of the bridge over $4 billion, that the ownership is shared between the state of Michigan and the Government of Canada, and that in the construction of the bridge, obviously, there's Canadian steel, Canadian workers, but also US Steel, US workers that are involved," Carney said.
"This is a great example of cooperation between our countries," he added.
The bridge now sits at the intersection of trade, politics and regional economic interests, as Carney said Trump asked that US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra, who is from Michigan, help "smooth" discussions surrounding the project.
'Serious repercussions' if opening delayed
If the opening of the bridge is further delayed, the total cost would be $7 million per week, according to a recently published report by Michigan business consulting firm Anderson Economic Group (AEG).
Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, in a post on US social media platform X, described the bridge as 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," she said, noting that the reaction follows Canada's recent agreements made with China after "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," she added.
In remarks to AM800 News, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens also commented on Trump's Truth Social post, saying: "It just is his style. He seems comfortable lying to the general public about how we got to where we got to with this particular project that should be celebrated in normal times."
"It's the type of project that you would have a prime minister and president meet in the middle and shake hands in normal times, but he's chosen a different approach," Dilkens said.
'Opposition' by owners of neighboring Ambassador Bridge
Meanwhile, the bridge dispute also drew scrutiny from some US lawmakers. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee on Feb. 13 opened an investigation into whether Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's reported meeting with Matthew Moroun, the billionaire owner of the Ambassador Bridge that also connects Detroit to Canada, influenced the Trump administration's actions on the Gordie Howe bridge.
A report by The New York Times on Feb. 10 said Trump's social media post on the bridge came shortly after a meeting between Lutnick and Moroun.
While no official statement was made by Moroun or the White House, the New York Post alleged that the Moroun family has long opposed the new crossing, a competitor to their privately owned bridge.
According to multiple reports, Michigan political figures, including Republican candidates, have received campaign contributions from the Moroun family, raising questions about political influence over infrastructure policy.
While Trump's initial comments suggested he could block the bridge from opening, both governments are now engaged in discussions.
Any fundamental change to ownership or governance would require renegotiating the existing Canada-Michigan Crossing Agreement, a complex legal and diplomatic undertaking.
For now, the construction continues, and Canadian officials maintain the bridge will open as planned.
But the dispute highlights broader strains in US-Canada ties during Trump's second term, in which trade grievances and questions of economic leverage have resurfaced.
