Former President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of a bridge connecting the US and Canada until Washington is 'fully compensated for everything' it has given to its northern neighbor. The Gordie Howe International Bridge, which will connect Ontario to Michigan, would not open until Ottawa treats the US with the 'Fairness and Respect that we deserve', Trump stated on social media.
The bridge is being funded by the Canadian government but will be publicly owned by both Canada and Michigan. Trump has not clarified how he could hinder its opening, yet he indicated negotiations would commence immediately.
The bridge, spanning the Detroit River, is expected to open traffic in early 2026, pending formal tests and approvals. Construction began in 2018, lingering as a contention point for over a decade, with an estimated cost of $6.4 billion CAD (approximately £3.4 billion).
In his statement on Truth Social, Trump argued that the US should own 'at least one half of this asset', implying that both sides of the bridge are currently under Canadian ownership. He criticized the Canadian government for allegedly taking advantage of the US, stating, 'I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them.'
Trade relations between the US and Canada remain strained, particularly following the recent signing of a trade deal between Canada and China, which Trump claimed would negatively impact Canada significantly. 'The first thing China will do is terminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada, and permanently eliminate The Stanley Cup,' he ominously predicted.
Responses from Canada’s bridge authority, the Ontario premier's office, and the Detroit mayor's office have not yet been obtained.
The bridge is being funded by the Canadian government but will be publicly owned by both Canada and Michigan. Trump has not clarified how he could hinder its opening, yet he indicated negotiations would commence immediately.
The bridge, spanning the Detroit River, is expected to open traffic in early 2026, pending formal tests and approvals. Construction began in 2018, lingering as a contention point for over a decade, with an estimated cost of $6.4 billion CAD (approximately £3.4 billion).
In his statement on Truth Social, Trump argued that the US should own 'at least one half of this asset', implying that both sides of the bridge are currently under Canadian ownership. He criticized the Canadian government for allegedly taking advantage of the US, stating, 'I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them.'
Trade relations between the US and Canada remain strained, particularly following the recent signing of a trade deal between Canada and China, which Trump claimed would negatively impact Canada significantly. 'The first thing China will do is terminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada, and permanently eliminate The Stanley Cup,' he ominously predicted.
Responses from Canada’s bridge authority, the Ontario premier's office, and the Detroit mayor's office have not yet been obtained.
