Detroit Bridge Owner Donated $1M to MAGA PAC Before Trump's Gordie Howe Bridge Threat

Records show Ambassador Bridge owner Matthew Moroun made the donation less than a month before Trump threatened to block the new bridge's opening.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The owner of the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit, Matthew Moroun, donated $1 million to MAGA Inc., a political action committee supporting former President Trump, less than a month before Trump threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge. This donation has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and corruption, as the Gordie Howe Bridge could reduce toll revenue at the Ambassador Bridge.

Why it matters

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is a major infrastructure project intended to provide an additional route across the busy international border area between Michigan and Ontario, especially for commercial trucks. The donation from the Ambassador Bridge owner to a pro-Trump PAC shortly before Trump's threat to block the new bridge's opening has raised questions about whether the donation was an attempt to influence policy decisions for personal business interests.

The details

According to documents from the Federal Election Commission, Matthew Moroun, the owner of the Ambassador Bridge, donated $1 million to MAGA Inc., a political action committee supporting former President Trump, less than a month before Trump posted on Truth Social that he would stop the Gordie Howe International Bridge from opening "until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them." The Gordie Howe Bridge is jointly owned by Michigan and Canada, with Canada footing the construction costs. The Canadian government planned to recoup the funding through toll revenue, which could potentially reduce revenue for the privately-owned Ambassador Bridge.

  • In February 2026, Matthew Moroun donated $1 million to MAGA Inc.
  • In early February 2026, former President Trump threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

The players

Matthew Moroun

The owner of the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit, which connects Detroit to Windsor, Canada.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

MAGA Inc.

A political action committee supporting former President Trump.

Gordie Howe International Bridge

A new bridge under construction since 2018 that will provide an additional route across the international border between Michigan and Ontario.

Ambassador Bridge

The existing privately-owned bridge connecting Detroit to Windsor, Canada, which could see reduced toll revenue if the Gordie Howe Bridge opens.

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What’s next

The U.S. House Oversight Committee has requested documentation detailing Moroun's meeting with the U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary and any communication with White House officials regarding the Gordie Howe Bridge.

The takeaway

This case highlights concerns about the influence of wealthy donors on government policy decisions, particularly when those decisions could directly impact the donors' personal business interests. It raises questions about transparency and accountability in the political process.