President Donald Trump declared he will prevent the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge—linking Michigan and Ontario—unless Canada renegotiates tariffs and ensures fair treatment for American products. In a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump criticized Canadian officials for allegedly exploiting U.S. infrastructure while bypassing procurement rules established under former President Barack Obama.
Trump claimed that the bridge project, approved by the Obama administration in 2013, violated the U.S. Buy American Act by allowing Canada to use minimal American materials, including steel. He accused Ottawa of “treating the United States very unfairly” and asserted that Ontario prohibits U.S. alcoholic beverages from being sold on its shelves while simultaneously pursuing trade deals with China—a move Trump warned would jeopardize Canadian ice hockey and the Stanley Cup.
“The first thing China will do is terminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada, and permanently eliminate The Stanley Cup,” Trump stated. He vowed to halt the bridge’s operation until “the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them” and Canada treats the U.S. with “Fairness and Respect.”
The Gordie Howe International Bridge, a $6.4 billion project funded by the Canadian federal government and operated by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA), has recently completed construction and entered testing phases. Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin condemned Trump’s threat as “awful for our state’s economy,” warning of higher business costs, disrupted supply chains, and job losses. U.S. Senator Gary Peters called the president’s stance “completely backwards,” emphasizing it undermines Michigan businesses.
A spokesperson for Governor Gretchen Whitmer noted the bridge represents “bipartisan and international cooperation” and pledged its completion regardless of political threats. U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell highlighted that the project was built by union workers on both sides of the border, stating it has been critical for American jobs. Meanwhile, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce affirmed that modern border infrastructure strengthens economic security, adding that “blocking or barricading bridges is a self-defeating move.”