It started as a tweet β or, more precisely, a post on Truth Social β and suddenly a piece of infrastructure that was supposed to ease cross-border traffic is now a flashpoint in U.S.βCanada tensions. President Donald Trump said he will not allow the Gordie Howe International Bridge to open unless βsignificant concessionsβ are made by Ottawa, jolting politicians, business leaders and diplomatic watchers on both sides of the border.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge, a multibillion-dollar project designed to span the Detroit River between Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, is expected to open in early 2026 after years of construction. It was negotiated under a 2012 agreement and largely financed by the Canadian federal government, with plans for costs to be recouped through tolls over time.
But in a lengthy online post, Trump said the U.S. should not let the crossing begin operations until Canada βtreats the United States with the fairness and respect that we deserveβ and offered what he described as better terms β including, in his view, the U.S. owning at least half of the asset.
βI will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them,β Trump wrote, launching into a litany of trade grievances that stretched from tariffs to liquor shelf policies in Ontario.
The catch, and where diplomacy meets absurdity β is that Canada has already paid for the bridge, and under the agreement it is jointly owned by Canada and the state of Michigan, with roles and cost-sharing spelled out in clear legal terms. Prime Minister Mark Carney made a point of calling Trump to reassure him that the dispute will be resolved, reminding the world that Canadaβs investment was clear and the project is vital to cross-border commerce.
That hasnβt stopped reactions that range from confused to incredulous. Windsorβs mayor, the leader of the Canadian border city directly linked to Detroit by the bridge described the idea of blocking its opening as βjust insane,β noting that American steel and labor were used in parts of the project.
Michiganβs Democratic lawmakers also weighed in quickly. Senator Elissa Slotkin warned that halting the bridge would be βawful for our stateβs economy,β arguing that the project has broad bipartisan support and is critical to supply chains and jobs.
The Gordie Howe Bridge is an incredibly important infrastructure project for Michigan. President Trump’s threat tonight to tank it is awful for our state’s economy.
Canceling this project will have serious repercussions. Higher costs for Michigan businesses, less secure supply⦠https://t.co/LaCEQAtp6I
β Sen. Elissa Slotkin (@SenatorSlotkin) February 10, 2026
The Gordie Howe International Bridge is not just another crossing. When completed, it will include six lanes for vehicles β three in each direction β plus pedestrian and bicycle paths. It is designed to relieve heavy congestion on older crossings like the Ambassador Bridge, which has long been the busiest border crossing in North America by trade volume.
Trumpβs ultimatum comes amid a broader backdrop of trade friction with Canada. He has already threatened new tariffs on Canadian goods and criticized trade deals that he believes disadvantage American producers. The bridge dispute, in some ways, is the latest manifestation of these wider economic tensions, but it also exposes how infrastructure projects, once considered purely technical and collaborative, can become geopolitically charged.
Diplomats in Ottawa and Washington have been quietly working the phones. Carneyβs comments suggest a desire to smooth things over without escalation, emphasizing the long-standing partnership between the two neighbors. Analysts note that delaying or blocking the opening could not only disrupt regional economies but undermine trust in cross-border agreements that have operated for decades with relatively little fanfare.
Featured Image via X screengrab
