Trump Threatens to Block Gordie Howe International Bridge Opening

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Former President Donald Trump has warned that he may prevent the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a new border crossing between Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario, from opening unless Canada fully compensates the United States for what he claims is decades of unfair treatment.

Why it matters

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is a major infrastructure project that aims to ease congestion and facilitate trade between the U.S. and Canada. Trump's threat to block the bridge's opening raises concerns about potential disruptions to cross-border commerce and the broader U.S.-Canada relationship.

The details

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that he '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.' He complained that Canada has 'treated the U.S. very unfairly for decades' and that the U.S. 'should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset' even though Canada is paying the entire $6.4 billion cost of building the bridge, which will be jointly owned by Canada and the state of Michigan.

• Construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge began in 2018.
• The bridge is set to open this year.

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