Trump Issues Threat Over US-Canada Bridge Amid Disputes

Wed Feb 11 2026 00:35:44 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Former President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, insisting the U.S. should be compensated for past dealings with Canada.

Donald Trump has warned that he will not allow the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which connects the U.S. and Canada, to open unless the U.S. receives compensation from Canada. The bridge, primarily funded by the Canadian government, targets completion by early 2026. Trump's statement raises questions about U.S.-Canada relations and implications for ongoing trade disputes.

President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of a bridge connecting the US and Canada until Washington is 'fully compensated for everything' it has given to its northern neighbor.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge, which connects the Canadian province of Ontario to the US state of Michigan, would not open until Ottawa 'treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve', Trump wrote on social media.

According to the project's website, the bridge is being funded by the Canadian government but will be publicly owned by both Canada and Michigan.

It is not clear how Trump could block its opening, but he stated that negotiations would begin immediately without elaborating.

Spanning the Detroit River, the bridge is expected to open to traffic pending formal tests and approvals in early 2026. The construction started in 2018, yet the project has been a point of contention between the countries for over a decade.

The estimated construction cost is around $6.4 billion CAD (£3.4 billion), as reported by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

In his statement on Truth Social, Trump claimed that the US should own 'at least one half of this asset'. He also argued that Canada holds ownership over both the Canadian and US sides of the bridge.

Trump remarked, 'The Canadian Government expects me, as President of the United States, to PERMIT them to just 'take advantage of America!'

'I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them,' he insists.

Moreover, Trump pointed to recent trade conflicts, likening Canada's tariffs on US dairy products as 'unacceptable' for many years. He raised concerns regarding a new trade deal signed between Canada and China that he critics as detrimental to Canadian interests.

In response to Trump's threats, messages seeking comments from Canada's bridge authority, the Ontario premier's office, and the Detroit mayor's office went unanswered.