President Donald Trump has erupted in fury over a massive new bridge linking Michigan and Ontario.
In a blistering post to his Truth Social on Monday evening, Trump threatened to block its opening, accusing Canada of exploiting the United States while blasting former President Barack Obama for allowing the project to bypass ‘Buy American’ rules.
Trump declared he would halt the long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge unless the United States receives compensation, claiming Canada had benefited unfairly from American concessions.
‘I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them, and also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve,’ Trump wrote.
The president’s extraordinary threat targets one of the most consequential infrastructure projects on the northern border. The towering cable-stayed span across the Detroit River is expected to transform trade and transportation between the two countries.
Trump’s post unleashed a sweeping indictment of the project and Canada’s role in it, arguing that the United States had been sidelined in the construction of a bridge connecting its own territory.
‘As everyone knows, the Country of Canada has treated the United States very unfairly for decades,’ Trump wrote.
‘But imagine, Canada is building a massive bridge between Ontario and Michigan. They own both the Canada and the United States side and, of course, built it with virtually no US content.’
Trump declared he would halt the long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge unless the US receives compensation, claiming Canada had benefited unfairly from American concessions
In a blistering post to his Truth Social on Monday evening, Trump threatened to block its opening
He singled out Obama, accusing his predecessor of undermining American industry.
‘President Barack Hussein Obama stupidly gave them a waiver so they could get around the BUY AMERICAN Act, and not use any American products, including our Steel,’ Trump wrote.
Trump went even further, suggesting the United States should hold an ownership stake in the project.
‘With all that we have given them, we should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset,’ he said, adding: ‘The revenues generated because of the US Market will be astronomical.’
The Gordie Howe International Bridge spans the Detroit River, connecting southwest Detroit with Windsor, Ontario, and is expected to open later this year after years of construction and political wrangling.
Once operational, it will serve as a major commercial artery, providing direct access to Interstate 75 and Interstate 96 in Michigan and Highway 401 in Ontario—critical routes for cross-border trade between two deeply intertwined economies.
The crossing will also become the largest land port of entry between Canada and the United States, standing roughly 150 feet above the river and rising to 720 feet at its tallest towers.
Approximately 6,000 commuters are expected to travel across the bridge daily, while commercial traffic is projected to reshape supply chains between the two countries.
A view of the still-under-construction Gordie Howe International Bridge and in the background Atura Power – Brighton Beach generating station, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada seen last year
The Saginaw passes construction on the Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting on the Detroit River connecting Windsor, Ontario and Detroit
A view of the still-under-construction Gordie Howe International Bridge in Windsor, Ontario
The project is overseen by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority and was negotiated under a 2012 agreement between Canada and Michigan.
Under that deal, Canada agreed to finance the entire construction cost, with plans to recoup its investment through toll revenues once the bridge opens.
