US President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of a key bridge linking the United States and Canada, insisting that Washington must be fully compensated and granted ownership rights before the project can begin operations.
In a statement on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the Gordie Howe International Bridge, connecting Ontario in Canada with the US state of Michigan, should not open unless the United States owns “at least one half of this asset”.
He also suggested that Canada currently controls both the Canadian and US sides of the crossing, a claim that has sparked fresh controversy around the project.
“The Canadian Government expects me, as President of the United States, to PERMIT them to just ‘take advantage of America!’” Trump wrote. “I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them.”
According to the project’s website, the bridge is being financed by the Canadian government, while public ownership is expected to be shared between Canada and the US state of Michigan once it becomes operational. The body developing the project, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, is wholly owned by the Canadian government.
Trump did not explain how he could legally prevent the bridge from opening, nor did he outline what form the proposed compensation would take. He also provided no further details on his claim that negotiations with Canada would begin immediately.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge is considered a vital trade and transport route between the two countries, with the potential to ease congestion and strengthen economic ties. However, Trump’s latest comments have cast uncertainty over the long-anticipated project, raising questions about its ownership structure and opening timeline.
