According to Trump, the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which connects the province of Ontario and the state of Michigan, will not be opened until the Canadian government begins to treat the US with due respect and fairness. "I will not give permission for the opening of this bridge until the United States receives full compensation for everything we have done for Canada," he commented on his blog on Truth Social.
The bridge project is funded by the Canadian government and will be jointly owned by Canada and the state of Michigan, according to information on the project’s website.
It is unclear how Trump will be able to carry out his threat. He mentioned that "negotiations will begin immediately," but did not disclose details.
The bridge over the Detroit River was expected to be operational after the completion of official testing in early 2026. Construction began in 2018 and has been a source of disputes between the countries for over ten years, as reported by the BBC.
According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the construction cost was 6.4 billion Canadian dollars (approximately 4.7 billion US dollars).
In his message, Trump also expressed the opinion that the United States should own "at least half of this asset."
The construction of the bridge is managed by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, which is wholly owned by the Canadian government.
"They own both the Canadian and American sides, and of course, built it almost without using American materials. […] Now the Canadian government expects me, as the President of the United States, to simply allow them to 'use America'! What do the United States get? Absolutely nothing!" Trump added.
The Moroun family, American owners of the neighboring bridge, asked him to stop the construction of the new bridge during Trump's first term, claiming it violated their exclusive right to charge tolls.
In response, Trump and then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a joint statement emphasizing that the new bridge is a "vital economic link" for both countries.
Recently, Trump also recalled the trade disputes between the US and Canada, noting that "the tariffs on dairy products that Canada charges on American goods have been unacceptable for many years."
Additionally, he expressed dissatisfaction with a potential trade agreement between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and China, stating that it would "completely engulf Canada." Trump added: "The first thing China will do is stop all hockey games in Canada and permanently eliminate the Stanley Cup."
