President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to halt the opening of a major new bridge linking the United States and Canada, escalating tensions with a country he has previously suggested should become the 51st US state.
Trump said the United States should control “at least half” of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which is still under construction and connects Ontario in Canada with Michigan in the United States.
Construction of the $4.7 billion bridge, named after the late Canadian-born National Hockey League legend Gordie Howe, began in 2018 and is scheduled to open later this year.
“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 on Truth Social.
“We will start negotiations, IMMEDIATELY.”
The 79-year-old Republican president complained that Canada owns both ends of the bridge and alleged that “virtually” no American-made products were used in its construction.
However, according to a factsheet from the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, the project was fully financed by Canada and will be jointly owned by the Canadian government and the state of Michigan.
Trump also criticised Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, accusing him of seeking closer economic ties with China.
“And now, on top of everything else, Prime Minister (Mark) Carney wants to make a deal with China, which will eat Canada alive. We’ll just get the leftovers! I don’t think so,” Trump added.
Washington had earlier threatened to impose 100 percent tariffs on Canada after Carney visited Beijing last month and reached a preliminary trade agreement with China.
The US president further repeated an unfounded claim that Beijing would “terminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada.”
Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has repeatedly clashed with Canada over trade and economic relations. While he previously floated the idea of the United States annexing Canada, he has largely stepped back from that rhetoric in recent months.
Carney, meanwhile, warned at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month that the US-led global system of governance is undergoing “a rupture,” a remark widely interpreted as a reference to Trump’s disruptive approach, and called for mid-level powers to cooperate more closely.
What you should know
The Gordie Howe International Bridge is one of the largest infrastructure projects between the United States and Canada, aimed at easing trade and transport between Michigan and Ontario.
Trump’s threat to block its opening reflects broader strains in US–Canada relations since his return to office, driven by trade disputes, tariffs, and geopolitical concerns involving China.
While the bridge is fully financed by Canada and jointly owned with Michigan, Trump’s comments signal a more confrontational stance that could affect cross-border cooperation and economic ties.
