Trump wants to shut down a $4.7B bridge that Canada built and already paid for

Trump says bridge cannot open

President Trump posted on Truth Social on Feb. 10 that he would “not allow” the Gordie Howe International Bridge to open.

He said Canada must fully compensate the United States and show fairness and respect before the crossing can operate. Trump also demanded that the U.S. own at least half of the bridge.

How exactly Trump could block the opening was not immediately clear, but the threat sent shockwaves through Michigan’s political and business circles.

What the Gordie Howe bridge is

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is a six-lane crossing that connects Detroit to Windsor, Ontario.

It stretches about 1.6 miles total, with a main span of roughly half a mile, making it the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America.

The bridge links Interstate 75 in Michigan directly to Highway 401 in Ontario, creating the first uninterrupted highway-to-highway connection between the two countries at that crossing.

It even includes a path for pedestrians and cyclists, a first for the Detroit River.

The U.S. already owns half

Trump demanded half ownership, but the U.S. already has it. Under a 2012 agreement between Canada and the state of Michigan, the bridge is jointly owned 50-50.

Former Republican Gov. Rick Snyder negotiated the deal after both the Michigan Legislature and the Obama administration refused to fund it.

Canada paid the full cost, reported at CA$6.4 billion, or roughly $4.7 billion in U.S. dollars. Canada plans to recover that money through toll revenue collected over 30 years.

Trump’s claims did not match records

Trump said the bridge was built with virtually no American content, but officials from both countries confirmed the project used U.S. steel.

Former Gov. Snyder, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford all backed that up.

The Obama administration did issue a 2012 Buy America waiver so Canadian steel could also go into the project, since Canada was covering the full cost.

The White House also wrongly stated that Canada fully owns the bridge and the land on both sides. Michigan’s Department of Transportation owns the U.S. side land.

Trump backed the bridge in 2017

During his first term, Trump struck a different tone. He and then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a joint statement calling the bridge a “vital economic link.”

That 2017 statement said both countries looked forward to the bridge’s quick completion.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pointed to concerns about American-made materials and shared authority over what crosses the bridge when asked about the shift.

A former Canadian member of Parliament noted that Trump’s first administration had no issue with the arrangement but now wants to use it as leverage.

White House wants a share of tolls

The White House said on Feb. 11 that Trump wants to renegotiate the 2013 presidential permit that authorized the bridge’s construction.

Officials said the president believes the U.S. should share in the toll revenue the bridge generates. Under the current deal, toll money goes to Canada to repay its construction costs over 30 years.

The Obama administration issued the presidential permit, and the current president could, in theory, amend or revoke it.

Rival bridge owner met Trump official

The New York Times reported that Matthew Moroun, whose family owns the competing Ambassador Bridge, met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick just hours before Trump’s post.

The Moroun family has fought the Gordie Howe bridge since its earliest planning stages, spending more than $30 million on a 2012 Michigan ballot measure to block the project.

That measure failed. Since 2019, Matthew Moroun has donated more than $605,000 to Trump’s campaign and related Republican fundraising efforts.

Former Gov. Snyder wrote that blocking the bridge would create “one big winner”: the Moroun family.

The Ambassador Bridge connection

The Ambassador Bridge, built in 1929, is privately owned by the Moroun family. It is the busiest commercial vehicle crossing between the U.S. and Canada.

The Gordie Howe bridge would compete directly with the Ambassador Bridge for toll-paying truck traffic.

The White House noted that the Ambassador Bridge belongs to “an American family-run business” but did not name the Morouns.

Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell said people should ask more questions about the family’s role in Trump’s decision.

Michigan Democrats pushed back hard

Sen. Elissa Slotkin called the threat “awful” for Michigan’s economy, warning it would mean higher costs, weaker supply chains, and fewer jobs.

Rep. Dingell said the bridge is critical to American jobs and trade and questioned why Trump would hurt the workers who voted for him.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office said the bridge will open “one way or another” and that she looks forward to attending the ribbon cutting. Whitmer called the project a tremendous example of bipartisan and international cooperation.

Michigan Republicans backed Trump

Not everyone in Michigan pushed back. House Speaker Matt Hall said the U.S. “holds a lot of the cards” and supported Trump’s move as a negotiating tactic.

Rep. John James, a Republican candidate for governor, called Trump the best dealmaker in the world. U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers also defended the threat, pointing to Canada’s recent trade talks with China.

Hall noted the Ambassador Bridge is owned by an American and said a lot of people were happy with just one bridge.

Canada says it will be resolved

Prime Minister Carney said he spoke with Trump on the morning of Feb. 11 and called it a positive conversation.

He told reporters he explained that Canada paid for the bridge and that ownership is shared with Michigan. Carney said the situation will be settled but gave no details on what a deal might look like.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the U.S. needs to make sure it gets its fair share of economic activity from the bridge.

Bridge was nearly ready to open

Construction began in 2018, and major work is now complete. Crews are doing final testing and inspections.

On Jan. 30, the Department of Homeland Security designated the bridge as an official port of entry, effective March 2. The department estimated the bridge would save travelers $12.7 million a year by reducing congestion.

Trump’s threat came amid wider U.S.-Canada tensions, including tariff disputes, the upcoming USMCA trade deal review, and Canada’s new trade partnership with China.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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