Why Trump is blocking the $6.4B Gordie Howe Bridge

One of the most anticipated infrastructure projects in Canada could be dead in the water, thanks to one social media post. 

Donald Trump is threatening to shut down the Gordie Howe Bridge before it has even opened, using it to argue a plethora of dubious grievances. In a bizarre post on Truth Social, Trump stated that the U.S. has been treated unfairly by Canada and the bridge has virtually no U.S. content, specifically steel. He also blasted Canada’s leadership for looking to China for future trade deals. 

“Prime Minister Carney wants to make a deal with China — which will eat Canada alive,” wrote Trump. “We’ll just get the leftovers! I don’t think so. The first thing China will do is terminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada, and permanently eliminate The Stanley Cup.”

He went on to complain about dairy tariffs, Ontario’s refusal to stock American alcohol products and more. 

“We will start negotiations, IMMEDIATELY. With all that we have given them, we should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset,” said Trump. “The revenues generated because of the U.S. Market will be astronomical.”

Separating fact from fiction

The bridge is a Canadian-led, bi-national border project linking Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan. It was designed to add capacity at one of North America’s busiest trade corridors with a new highway-to-highway connection to Interstate 75. It’s expected to open later this year. 

The conditions of its construction have never been a secret. Under the Canada–Michigan Crossing Agreement signed June 15, 2012, Canada and Michigan share public ownership and governance through a jointly represented international authority, while Canada covers land acquisition on both sides and delivers the Michigan interchange. The deal also requires iron and steel to be sourced from Canada or the United States, mandates community benefit plans with host communities, and directs Canadian-side toll revenues toward repaying Canadian government advances used to finance the project. When it comes to steel specifically, Windsor’s mayor has publicly stated that U.S. steel was used in the bridge works on the Michigan side of the river.

The conditions of the deal weren’t forced on anyone and have been embraced by U.S. officials. Here’s what Trump said in a joint statement issued after a 2017 meeting with then-prime minister Justin Trudeau. 

“Given our shared focus on infrastructure investments, we will encourage opportunities for companies in both countries to create jobs through those investments. In particular, we look forward to the expeditious completion of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which will serve as a vital economic link between our two countries.”

In terms of project participation, several key U.S.-headquartered players were involved through the Bridging North America consortium: Fluor Corporation and FlatironDragados were the most directly tied to on-the-ground construction delivery, while AECOM and Parsons Corporation were primarily positioned around design, engineering, and project services.

The bottom line is this: The $6.4 billion bridge was fully paid for by the Canadian government. The U.S. participated and is a joint owner. 

Bridge billionaires

Just a nine minute drive from the Gordie Howe Bridge is another major sticking point: the century-old Ambassador Bridge, privately owned by the Moroun family. Their connection to starts with Detroit trucking magnate Manuel “Matty” Moroun, who built a large transportation and logistics business and then moved into border infrastructure by acquiring control of the bridge’s operating company in 1979 (notably from Warren Buffet), when shares of the Detroit International Bridge Company were available for purchase.

Generations of the family have spent years trying to stop or slow the Gordie Howe International Bridge, using a mix of legal and political pressure and public messaging aimed at casting the publicly owned project as unfair competition and “Canadian” in a way meant to stir U.S. opposition. 

A notable flashpoint came when the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority and Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens pushed back against a patriotic, “Dear Mr. President” TV ad timed for Fox & Friends viewers, urging Donald Trump to revoke the project’s presidential permit and falsely claiming that the bridge was Canadian-owned, would shut out American jobs, and wouldn’t use American steel. 

WDBA spokesman Mark Butler said the campaign relied on “inaccuracies,” arguing the bridge would be jointly owned by Canada and Michigan, would employ workers on both sides and involve agencies such as U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Canada Border Services Agency, and would source iron and steel from Canada or the U.S., while the ad also invoked Barack Obama in criticizing earlier permitting decisions.

What’s in it for the Morouns? The answer is tolls. The competing Gordie Howe Bridge would collect its own tolls to pay Ottawa back for its construction. This would no doubt cut into the Moroun’s own toll revenue, which is $14 to cross one way or $28 with a trailer.  

Can it be done?

While Trump was vague in his threats, there could be mechanisms to stop traffic. While he can’t unilaterally stop Canada from finishing or “opening” the bridge, a U.S. president can influence whether it operates as a functioning U.S.–Canada crossing by targeting U.S.-side approvals and operations. In his post, Trump could be referring to the U.S. State Department “Presidential Permit,” issued in April 2013, which authorizes the bridge’s construction and operation and can, in theory, be modified, suspended, or revoked under the U.S. permitting framework. Separately, even with a completed bridge, it can’t function as an international crossing without U.S. border agencies (CBP/DHS) designating and staffing it as a port of entry, so U.S. operational decisions could also delay a real-world opening.

What leaders are saying

Despite all the bluster, Canadian officials appear confident the bridge will open as planned.

“This is a great example of co-operation between our countries,” said Carney, following a call with Trump. “I look forward to it opening. And what is particularly important, of course, is the commerce and the tourism and the voyages of Canadians and Americans that will go across that bridge.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford was much more blunt, saying that Canada shouldn’t roll over and let the U.S. take advantage of us. He also refused to rollback trade war counter measures, like stocking U.S. alcohol on Ontario shelves. He was confident the bridge would open.

LiUNA, the union representing the construction workers who built the bridge, reacted strongly to the presidents words.

“Cross-border infrastructure is not exploitation,” it said. “It is a shared investment that reduces congestion, strengthens industrial competitiveness, and improves reliability for businesses that depend on the Great Lakes trade corridor … Inflammatory rhetoric may score cheap political points, but it does not build infrastructure, protect jobs, or strengthen our shared economic future.”