Trump threatens to block Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit and Canada from opening

Craig Mauger, The Detroit News on Feb 9, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

LANSING, Mich. — President Donald Trump threatened Monday evening to prevent the new Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit and Windsor from opening until Canada treats the United States with, what he described as, "fairness and respect."

The Republican president issued the statement about the $5.7 billion Canadian-financed project, which has been under construction since 2018, on the social media platform Truth Social. The bridge project was once touted by Republican former Gov. Rick Snyder as an enduring symbol of two nations' partnership.

However, in the new post, Trump complained that Ontario won't allow U.S. alcoholic products on its shelves, that Canada's prime minister, Mark Carney, was attempting to work with China and about Canadian tariffs on U.S. dairy products.

"I 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," Trump wrote. "We will start negotiations, IMMEDIATELY."

"With all that we have given them, we should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset. The revenues generated because of the U.S. Market will be astronomical."

The new bridge has been expected to open at some point this year.

It will be jointly owned by Canada and the state of Michigan, with Canada providing financing for the project, according to the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. Michigan lawmakers declined to contribute to the cost more than a decade ago during Snyder's first term in office.

The bridge spans the Detroit River, connecting southwest Detroit to northwest Windsor, Ontario. At 150 feet above the Detroit River and 720 feet high, the Gordie Howe will be the largest Canadian and U.S. land port along the border. An estimated 6,000 people are expected to commute to Detroit from Ontario each day by the bridge.

The span, financed by the Canadian federal government, will compete with the privately owned Ambassador Bridge, providing direct access in the U.S. to I-75 and Interstate 96 in Detroit and in Canada to Ontario Highway 401.

At the 2018 groundbreaking, Snyder, who left office at the end of 2018, said the bridge would be "a thriving legacy named for a legend, " referring to the former Detroit Red Wing hockey great. Howe represented the best of Canada and the United States, Snyder said.

"Every Michigander should thank every Canadian," Snyder said in 2018.

At the time, the Republican-led Michigan Legislature refused to fund half of the project. Snyder helped forge a deal in which Canada paid to build the bridge, and the U.S. customs plaza, and expects to recoup its investment through vehicle tolls.

A representative with the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority could be immediately reached Monday evening for comment.

_____

(Detroit News staff writer Louis Aguilar contributed to this story.)

_____