U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked a fresh diplomatic crisis with Ottawa by threatening to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a nearly completed $4.7 billion project spanning the Detroit River. In a series of social media posts late Monday, February 9, 2026, the President declared he will not permit the bridge to open until Canada agrees to turn over at least half of the asset’s ownership to the United States and provides “full compensation” for past trade grievances.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge, which connects Detroit, Michigan, with Windsor, Ontario, has been under construction since 2018 and was slated for a ribbon-cutting ceremony this spring. While the project was financed entirely by the Canadian government, it is currently managed under a joint agreement between Canada and the State of Michigan. Trump, however, labeled the existing arrangement “unacceptable,” falsely claiming the bridge used “virtually no U.S. content” and accusing Canada of “taking advantage of America” for decades.
The threat comes amid a period of extreme friction between the Trump administration and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Tensions have recently boiled over regarding Canada’s trade negotiations with China and Ontario’s retaliatory ban on American spirits. Trump warned that if Canada pursues its deal with Beijing, “China will eat Canada alive,” even making the bizarre claim that such an alliance would lead to a ban on ice hockey and the permanent elimination of the Stanley Cup.
Reaction from the Great Lakes region has been swift and critical. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office dismissed the threat, stating the bridge “is going to open one way or another” and emphasizing its vital role in the North American auto industry. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) accused the President of “economic sabotage,” noting that blocking the busiest trade corridor in North America would lead to higher costs for Michigan businesses and less secure supply chains.
Despite the rhetoric, Prime Minister Carney told reporters in Paris today that he has held a “positive” conversation with Trump and expects the situation to be resolved. However, White House officials later clarified that the President is prepared to amend federal permits to halt the project unless his demands for shared ownership and revenue are met. This standoff serves as a high-stakes prelude to the upcoming 2026 review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
