President Donald Trump has threatened to prevent the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge linking Michigan in the United States with Ontario in Canada. Trump said the US should own “at least half” of the bridge and demanded that Canada treat the United States with “fairness and respect,” according to a post on Truth Social.
Construction of the $4.7-billion bridge began in 2018. Named after Canadian-born National Hockey League legend Gordie Howe, the bridge is designed to improve trade and transportation between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan. It is expected to handle tens of thousands of commercial and passenger vehicles daily when it opens later this year.
Trump criticized Canada for owning both sides of the bridge and using “virtually no US products” in construction. He said the United States will start negotiations “immediately” to secure compensation for its involvement.
The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority confirmed that the bridge was financed entirely by Canada and will be jointly owned by Canada and the state of Michigan. All procurement and construction followed Canadian regulations, the authority said, with oversight from both governments.
The US president also highlighted Canada’s preliminary trade deal with China, warning that the agreement could disadvantage American interests. He repeated his claim that Beijing’s involvement could negatively affect ice hockey in Canada, though details of this assertion remain unclear.
Trump has clashed with Canada over trade since returning to office in January 2025. He previously suggested that the United States should annex Canada but has largely dropped that claim. His administration has threatened tariffs on Canadian goods in response to trade disagreements.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed tensions at the Davos forum last month, describing a “rupture” in the US-led international system of governance and urging mid-level powers to strengthen cooperation, comments widely seen as a response to Trump’s approach to trade and diplomacy.
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