DETROIT, MI – Widespread pushback ― and some support ― have rolled in one day after President Donald Trump first threatened to stymie opening the Gordie Howe International Bridge with a list of economic complaints about Canada.
In a post on his platform Truth Social Monday, Feb. 9, Trump suggested he block the new span, claiming the U.S. should own “at least half” of the bridge. He also demanded the country’s northern neighbor agree to trade deals more beneficial to the U.S., calling out Canada’s considering a deal with China.
Since the post, leaders on both sides of the border have sought to clarify details about the Gordie Howe Bridge, particularly the ownership stake the U.S. already has and how the cost of the multi-billion-dollar project has been covered.
“As a reminder, Canada financed the construction of the bridge, which was built by union construction workers from both sides of the border,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement Tuesday, Feb. 10, “and it will be operated under a joint ownership agreement between Michigan and Canada.”
Still, Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall and other Republicans, including U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers and U.S. Rep. John James, defended Trump’s comments Tuesday.
In remarks to the Detroit News, the speaker said Canada “should treat us more fairly” with “better reciprocal trade deals” and that considering a deal with China was “really out of bounds.”
White House officials also continued to maintain Trump’s right to amend a permit for a new bridge between Canada and Michigan. Hours after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke with Trump early Tuesday, according to the Associated Press, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Canadian controlling “what crosses” was “unacceptable to the president.”
Construction for the Gordie Howe Bridge began in 2018, and it’s expected to open to traffic, connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, sometime this year. Canada will recoup its costs through tolls.
On Tuesday, the New York Times reported that Matthew Moroun, whose family owns the nearby Ambassador Bridge, met with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in Washington earlier on Monday before Lutnick called Trump.
The Moroun family has previously appealed to the Trump administration, CBC News reported, to stop the Gordie Howe Bridge in step with claims that it would infringe on an exclusive right to collect tolls. Despite his post Monday, Trump supported the bridge project in his first term.
Rick Snyder, a Republican and former Michigan governor, encouraged Trump challenge his advisors in a piece for the Detroit News Tuesday, adding only the Moroun family would benefit from a delay in the Gordie Howe span.
“The GHIB (Gordie Howe International Bridge) is a great deal for America that I hope you will be proud of,” wrote Snyder, who played a role in kicking off the project.
“We have some issues with Canada that should be negotiated. But picking this bridge as the leverage point doesn’t seem to make the most sense given your other tools. The bridge stoppage approach would primarily harm Americans.”
Michigan Democrats, in part, agreed, citing the bridge’s importance.
“This is the busiest trade crossing in North America,” Whitmer said. “The Gordie Howe International Bridge is all about jobs. It’s good for Michigan workers and it’s good for Michigan’s auto industry.
“… This project has been a tremendous example of bipartisan and international cooperation. It’s going to open one way or another, and the governor looks forward to attending the ribbon cutting.”
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell said Trump was “once again protecting the interests of your billionaire donor friends” instead of “for American workers and our economy.” In a statement, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel said Trump’s “chaos” will yield “higher costs, fewer jobs, and greater uncertainty for our state’s auto industry.”
