Canadian PM responds to Trump threat to block bridge between US and Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday he is looking forward to the opening of a major new bridge linking the United States and Canada, one day after President Donald Trump threatened to block the multibillion-dollar project.

In a social media post Monday, Trump wrote:

“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 did not name the project directly, but his comments appeared to refer to the Gordie Howe International Bridge — a six-lane crossing designed to connect Windsor, Ontario, with Detroit, Michigan.

Trump suggested the U.S. should receive a larger stake in the bridge, arguing that the economic benefits tied to American commerce would be “astronomical.”

“With all that we have given them, we should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset,” Trump wrote.

The $4.7 billion bridge has been under construction since 2018 and is expected to open sometime early this year, though an official date has not yet been announced. The project is being financed and overseen by the Canadian government.

Carney confirmed Tuesday that he spoke with Trump directly about the issue, emphasizing that Canada has paid for the bridge’s construction.

“I explained that Canada paid for the construction of the bridge — more than $4 billion — and that ownership is shared between the state of Michigan and the Government of Canada,” Carney told reporters.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford added that under the existing agreement, once Canada recovers its costs through toll revenue, Michigan will ultimately own half of the bridge.

Carney described his conversation with Trump as “positive” and highlighted the cooperative nature of the project, noting that both Canadian and American steel and workers have been involved in its construction.

“We very much look forward to the bridge opening,” Carney said. “What is particularly important is the commerce, the tourism, and the travel of Canadians and Americans who will cross that bridge.”

Carney also said Trump suggested that U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, a former Michigan congressman, could help facilitate further discussions.

During a White House briefing Tuesday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was “putting America’s interests first” and argued it was unacceptable that more American-made materials were not used in the bridge’s construction.

Ford said he remains confident the bridge will open, calling it critical to the U.S. economy.

“The worst thing you could do is hurt the American economy,” Ford said. “This bridge is in the best interest of both countries.”