President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of a major bridge linking the United States and Canada, saying it will not open until Washington is “fully compensated for everything” it has given to its northern neighbour.
In a social media post, Trump said the Gordie Howe International Bridge — which connects Ontario in Canada to Michigan in the US — should remain closed until Canada treats the United States with what he described as “fairness and respect.”
The bridge, which spans the Detroit River between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, is funded by the Canadian government but will be publicly owned by both Canada and the state of Michigan.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Tuesday that he had a “positive” conversation with Trump, during which he reminded the US president that Canada paid for the bridge. Carney also noted that the project was built by both US and Canadian workers, using steel from both countries.
“This is a great example of cooperation between our countries, and I look forward to it opening,” Carney told reporters in Ottawa. He added that Trump asked the US ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra — a Michigan native — to help smooth discussions around the bridge.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford welcomed news of the Trump–Carney call, saying he was confident the bridge would open as planned and stressing that it is in the economic interests of both countries.
Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin warned that blocking the bridge would be damaging for her state’s economy. Closing such an “incredibly important infrastructure project,” she said, could lead to higher costs for businesses, weaker supply chains and job losses.
It remains unclear how Trump could legally prevent the bridge from opening, though he said negotiations would begin immediately. The bridge, named after late Canadian hockey legend Gordie Howe, is expected to open to traffic later this year once final testing and approvals are completed. Construction began in 2018, following years of political disputes, and the project is estimated to have cost about 6.4 billion Canadian dollars.
In his Truth Social post, Trump argued that the United States should own at least half of the bridge and suggested that Canada effectively controls both sides. The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, which is overseeing the project, is a Canadian federal Crown corporation that operates at arm’s length from the government.
Trump also accused former President Barack Obama of allowing construction to proceed without the use of US steel, a claim rejected by Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, who called the accusation “insane.”
Trump’s trade chief, Jamieson Greer, later said the president’s comments were focused specifically on bridge-related negotiations, including how toll revenues should be shared.
The issue has revived long-standing tensions around cross-border infrastructure. During Trump’s first term, the Moroun family — owners of the nearby Ambassador Bridge — urged him to halt construction of the new bridge, arguing it threatened their toll revenues. At the time, Trump and then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau jointly described the project as a vital economic link.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer also pushed back against Trump’s threat, calling the bridge a job-creating project and a strong example of bipartisan and international cooperation.
Trump linked his comments to broader trade disputes with Canada, including tariffs on US dairy products and Canada’s recent trade engagement with China. Some of his remarks, including comments about ice hockey and the Stanley Cup, were met with criticism.
Senator Slotkin responded by saying Canada had been pushed toward China because of prolonged trade pressure from the US, adding that Canada is “our friend, not our enemy,” and pledging to work to keep the project on track.
