Trump Threatens to Block Opening of US–Canada Bridge Over Compensation Dispute

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of a major bridge linking the United States and Canada, saying the crossing will not open unless Washington receives what he described as “full compensation.”

The Gordie Howe International Bridge, which connects the Canadian province of Ontario with the U.S. state of Michigan, is scheduled to open to traffic later this year once final testing and regulatory approvals are completed.

In a post on social media, Trump said the bridge would not be allowed to open until Ottawa treated the United States with “fairness and respect.”

According to the project’s website, the bridge is being financed by the Canadian government but will be jointly owned by Canada and the state of Michigan.

Michigan Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin warned that blocking the opening of the bridge would cause serious economic damage to the state.

“Shutting down such a critical infrastructure project would be devastating for our state’s economy,” Slotkin said in a post on X, adding that the move could raise costs for Michigan businesses, weaken supply chain security and ultimately lead to job losses.

It remains unclear how Trump would legally prevent the bridge from opening. He said discussions would begin immediately but provided no further details.

The bridge spans the Detroit River and has long been viewed as a vital trade link between the two countries. Construction began in 2018, but the project has been the subject of political and legal disputes for more than a decade.

Canada’s public broadcaster CBC reported that the bridge has cost approximately C$6.4 billion ($3.4 billion). Trump said on his Truth Social platform that the United States should hold at least a 50% ownership stake in what he described as a U.S. asset.

He also suggested that Canada owns both the Canadian and U.S. sides of the bridge. However, the project website states that the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, which is responsible for developing and operating the bridge, is wholly owned by the Canadian government.

“The Canadian government expects that I, as President of the United States, will simply allow them to take advantage of America,” Trump wrote. “I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated.”

Trump also blamed former President Barack Obama, claiming the bridge was approved without requiring the use of American steel. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens rejected the allegation, telling CBC that the claim was “completely false.”

“This is absolute madness,” Dilkens said. “I can’t believe what I’m reading.”

The American owners of the nearby Ambassador Bridge — the Moroun family — had previously urged Trump during his first term to block construction of the new bridge, arguing it would undermine their toll monopoly. At the time, Trump and then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a joint statement calling the project a critical economic link between the two countries.

Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer also opposed Trump’s threat, saying the project is important for job creation in the state.

“This project is an outstanding example of bipartisan and international cooperation,” Whitmer’s press secretary Stacey LaRouche said.

Trump on Monday also referenced recent trade tensions, calling Canada’s long-standing tariffs on U.S. dairy products “unacceptable.” He further claimed that a trade deal signed last month between Canada and China would “destroy” Canada, making a series of exaggerated remarks about its impact on ice hockey.

In response, Senator Slotkin said Canada was only moving closer to China because Trump had pressured Ottawa for more than a year.

“Canada is our friend, not our enemy,” she said, adding that she would work to get the bridge project back on track.

Officials from the bridge authority, the Ontario premier’s office and the Detroit mayor’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.