President Donald Trump has warned that he may move to block the opening of the new Canadian‑built Gordie Howe International Bridge, insisting that the United States should receive at least half‑ownership of the project before it is allowed to operate.
In a lengthy social media post on Monday, Trump argued that the U.S. “gets nothing” from the bridge despite its strategic importance and complained that Canada did not use American steel during construction. He said negotiations should begin “immediately” and hinted at additional, unspecified demands.
The bridge, funded entirely by Canada, is designed to ease congestion between Detroit and Windsor and has been under construction since 2018. It was negotiated under a previous Michigan administration and is scheduled to open in early 2026. How Trump might legally block its opening remains unclear, and neither U.S. nor Canadian officials have yet commented publicly.
The threat comes at a time of growing strain between Washington and Ottawa. The United States‑Mexico‑Canada Agreement is up for review this year, and Trump has taken a tougher stance ahead of those talks, including raising the possibility of new tariffs.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has recently spoken out against what he described as economic coercion, underscoring the rising tension between the two neighbours.
