Trump threatens to block opening of new bridge between US and Canada

The Gordie Howe International Bridge, named after the Canadian hockey player and connecting the Canadian province of Ontario with the US state of Michigan, will not be opened until Ottawa "treats the US with fairness and respect," Trump said.

"I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States receives full compensation for everything we have given them, and, importantly, until Canada begins to treat the US with the fairness and respect we deserve," he wrote on his social network Truth Social.

According to information on the project's website, the bridge is funded by the Canadian government but will be jointly owned by both Canada and the State of Michigan.

It is not entirely clear how Trump will be able to block its opening. In his post, the American leader wrote that some negotiations "will begin immediately," without going into details.

The bridge across the Detroit River was expected to open to traffic after official testing and approvals in early 2026. Construction began in 2018, but the project had been a subject of dispute between the countries for more than 10 years.

According to estimates by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, its construction cost 6.4 billion Canadian dollars (4.7 billion US dollars).

In his Truth Social post, Trump also stated that the US should own "at least half of this asset."

According to information on the project's website, the bridge is being built by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, which is wholly owned by the Canadian government.

"They own both the Canadian and US sides, and of course, they built it with virtually no American materials. [...] Now the Canadian government expects me, as President of the US, to simply allow them to 'take advantage of America'! What do the United States of America get? Absolutely nothing!" Trump complained.

The Moroun family – American owners of a neighboring bridge connecting the US to Canada – appealed to Trump during his first term to stop the construction of the new bridge, arguing that it violated their exclusive right to collect tolls.

In response, Trump and then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a joint statement saying the new bridge was a "vital economic link" between the countries.

On Monday, Trump recalled recent trade disputes between the two countries, stating that "the tariffs Canada charges on our dairy products have been unacceptable for years."

He also stated that the trade agreement Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wants to conclude with China "will completely engulf Canada."

"The first thing China will do is stop all hockey games in Canada and permanently eliminate the Stanley Cup," Trump added.

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