US President Donald Trump has threatened to prevent the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a major infrastructure project linking the United States and Canada, unless Washington is “fully compensated” for what he claims the US has contributed to its northern neighbour.
In a series of posts on social media, Trump said the bridge, which connects Ontario in Canada to Michigan in the US, would not open until Ottawa treats the United States with what he described as “fairness and respect”. He added that the US should own “at least one half” of the crossing.
“I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them,” Trump wrote.
It remains unclear what authority the president could use to halt the opening. Trump said negotiations would begin immediately but did not provide further details.
According to the project’s official website, the bridge is being funded by the Canadian government and will be publicly owned by both Canada and the state of Michigan. Construction began in 2018 after years of planning and debate between the two countries. The crossing, which spans the Detroit River, is expected to open once final testing and regulatory approvals are completed.
The project is estimated to have cost about 6.4 billion Canadian dollars and is widely viewed as a critical trade route between the two nations.
Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin warned that blocking the bridge could have serious economic consequences for the state.
“Closing this incredibly important infrastructure project would be awful for our state’s economy,” she said in a post on X. “It would mean higher costs for Michigan businesses, less secure supply chains, and ultimately fewer jobs.”
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens dismissed Trump’s claim that the US had not benefited from the project or that American steel had not been used during construction.
“It’s just insane. I really can’t believe what I’m reading,” Dilkens told Canadian media.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer also defended the bridge, describing it as a product of bipartisan and international cooperation that would support jobs and cross-border trade.
The crossing has long faced opposition from the Moroun family, owners of the nearby Ambassador Bridge, who previously argued that the new link would affect their toll revenues. During Trump’s first term, both he and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the Gordie Howe Bridge as a vital economic link between the two countries.
Trump’s comments come amid renewed trade tensions, with the president criticising Canadian dairy tariffs and raising concerns about Canada’s recent trade engagement with China.
Canadian officials, including the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority and provincial leaders, had not issued immediate responses to the latest remarks.
The bridge, once operational, is expected to ease congestion and strengthen one of North America’s busiest trade corridors assuming politics doesn’t keep traffic waiting at the gate.