U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, the long-awaited crossing linking Windsor, Ontario, with Detroit, Michigan, arguing that the United States should receive compensation and partial ownership before it becomes operational.
In a social media post Monday, Trump said the U.S. would “immediately” begin negotiations over the bridge, which is expected to open early this year after multiple delays. He claimed the United States should own “at least one half of this asset.”
Trump also accused Canada of treating the United States “very unfairly” for decades, suggesting that Canada controls both the Canadian and American sides of the bridge. He further claimed the project was built with “virtually no U.S. content.”
According to the Government of Canada, Ottawa is funding the entire bridge project, which will be publicly owned through a partnership involving both Canada and the state of Michigan. The total cost is now projected at $6.4 billion, an increase from the original estimate of $5.7 billion.
The bridge was first announced in 2012 by former prime minister Stephen Harper and later named after Gordie Howe, the legendary hockey star who became an icon in Detroit during his career with the Red Wings. Construction officially began in 2018.
Federal officials describe the Gordie Howe bridge as a major infrastructure project that will provide a critical new crossing at one of the busiest commercial border points between Canada and the United States. The government says it will create long-term jobs in operations and maintenance while expanding capacity for trade and investment between the two countries.
Canada also views the bridge as a symbol of the deep economic and cultural ties between Windsor and Detroit. Former governor general Michaëlle Jean and filmmaker Jean-Daniel Lafond recently produced a documentary highlighting the project’s historical and regional significance.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens has previously called the city an international gateway and described the bridge as another strong connection in what he refers to as the “Two-Nation Destination.”
Trump’s comments come amid heightened tensions between Canada and the United States on trade and manufacturing issues. The president recently singled out Canadian aerospace company Bombardier, threatening decertification and tariffs on Canadian-made aircraft.
Bombardier opened its Global Manufacturing Centre in Mississauga near Pearson International Airport in 2024, a massive 770,000-square-foot facility — the largest standalone structure built at the airport in two decades.
The future of the Gordie Howe bridge opening could now become a new flashpoint in Canada-U.S. relations as the project nears completion.