President Trump is threatening to block the opening of a new bridge linking Detroit and Windsor, Ontario eagerly sought by the auto industry. The president points to his escalating debut with Canada but critics see a political favor for a major GOP donor who owns a rival span across the Detroit River. Headlight.News has more.
Work on the $5.9 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge is all but complete, with the 1.6-mile span currently set to open in the coming months.
President Donald Trump has taken aim at a key link in the supply chain widely used by the North American auto industry, serving factories in United States and Canada and as far away as Mexico.
In a rambling social media post on Monday, Trump threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, the long-planned crossing between Detroit and Windsor, unless Canada hands over ownership and compensation to the United States. Canada paid the full $5.9 billion cost for the span, even though ownership is shared with the State of Michigan.
Trump’s sudden move, coming shortly before the new span was set to open, came as a surprise to many, though it initially appeared linked to his ongoing dispute with Canada over trade and other issues. But an alternative explanation has now been raised, several reports suggesting it may be a direct favor by the president for a long-time GOP donor who owns the Ambassador Bridge, another span across the Detroit River – which is expected to lose business once the Gordie Howe Bridge opens.
New bridge long in the making
The Moroun family has spent years trying to block the Gordie Howe project to protect their monopoly as owners of the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.
Named for the legendary Canadian hockey star who played for decades for the Detroit Red Wings, construction of the 1.6-mile Gordie Howe Bridge spanning the Detroit River began in 2018 after a series of long and often torturous political and lobbying campaigns on both sides of the Canadian-Border. Among the leading advocates for the bridge were Detroit’s automakers and Michigan’s then Republican Governor Rick Snyder as well as Liberal, NDP and Conservative politicians in Ontario and Canada.
The late Sergio Marchionne, the former Fiat Chrysler Automobile CEO, was among one of the most outspoken champions of the new bridge which is finally complete after delays created by the pandemic.
The span will not only expedite traffic between plants operated by Stellantis, the successor to FCA, in Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario, but improve the flow of truck traffic to and from assembly and engine plants in Ontario by General Motors, Ford Motor Co. Toyota, and Honda — as well as countless suppliers on both sides of the border.
Protecting a monopoly.
Legendary Detroit Red Wings hockey player Gordie Howe.
There currently are two crossings from the City of Detroit to Windsor, but only the Ambassador Bridge can handle trucks. The span was opened in 1929, making it nearly a century old and now requires continuous repair and maintenance under constant and heavy truck traffic. Fears the Ambassador Bridge could be shuttered was one of the principal factors that drove the campaign for a new bridge across the Detroit River, one of the busiest and most strategic waterways on the North American continent.
Trump’s sudden threat on Monday to block the Gordie Howe International Bridge from opening early this year could have dire consequences for Michigan’s economy, critics say. “For years, Michigan and Detroit have been on the (new) bridge’s opening to usher in a new era of international commerce, border security and tourism,” Axios noted in a story on the Gordie Howe.
Primary opposition to the new span has been led by the Michigan-based Moroun family, which owns the Ambassador Bridge. The Moroun family went so far as to try building a second span of their own without permission. They were ordered to halt work and take down the moorings that were constructed. But they have continued trying to derail the competing project.
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Why is Trump getting involved
The Ambassador Bridge has struggled to handle the growing truck traffic between the U.S. and Canada.
With all but some minor work left to be done, it had been expected the Gordie Howe would open earlier in 2026, so the sudden intrusion by the president has come as a shock to observers The question was why now, especially since he had indicated support for the bridge during his first term.
A report by the New York Times on Tuesday points to the ties between the Moroun family and the Republican Party. The Michigan-based Morouns have frequently donated to candidates including Donald Trump.
Members of the family quietly met with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik just hours before Trump’s post on Truth Social threatened to block the Gordie Howe’s opening. The president declared it will not get formal approval, until Canada “treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve.”
White House officials added a list of subsequent grievances, among other things saying the U.S. should have half ownership and share in revenues. In fact, despite Canada paying for all of the construction costs, Michigan is slated to have half ownership of the Gordie Howe. And the Canadians will only continue to collect all tolls until the U.S. half of the costs are recouped..
Trump has feuded with Canada.
President Donald Trump toured Ford Motor Co.’s Rouge complex last month, home of the automaker’s big F-150 pickup.
The dispute over the bridge is just the latest in a running battle triggered by Trump who, shortly after taking office, demanded that Canada join the U.S. as its 51st state.
Monday’s social media post by Trump included a long list of his grievances with America’s northern neighbor — including Canada’s new trade deal with China, which was inspired by Trump’s earlier threats and tariffs on Canadian goods. He went on to say he would refuse to open the Gordie Howe bridge “until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them.”
Former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, a Republican, countered many of the president’s claims, among other things, reminding Trump ownership of the bridge will be shared between the Canadians and Michigan. Meanwhile, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vowed the bridge will “open one way or another” and stressed its importance to the state’s workforce and auto industry. The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority also said in a statement it is still on track for opening the bridge early this year.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters he had a “positive” conversation with Trump to follow up on the bridge issue. Carney said he looks forward to the opening, adding that he discussed the various issues raised by the president and noting it was built with workers and steel from both countries.
Paul A. Eisenstein contributed to this report.
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