The White House is doubling down on President Trump’s threats to delay the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Michigan and Canada.
White House officials confirmed the president has the authority to amend the permit for the bridge, which is set to open this year.
The statement comes after Trump posted on Truth Social saying he would block the bridge’s opening until Canada treats the U.S. with “fairness and respect.”
The president’s threats come as negotiations are set to begin this year on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the trade pact between the three North American nations.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge would be the third border crossing between Detroit and Windsor, serving one of North America’s busiest trade corridors.
The project’s origins date back to 2012, when Michigan and Canada signed an agreement to build the jointly-owned bridge.
Under the agreement, Canada took responsibility for construction costs, which will be repaid through toll revenue. The bridge will be operated by Canada through a public-private partnership.
Glenn Stevens Jr., of the Detroit Regional Chamber, emphasized the bridge’s importance to regional commerce.
“We have significant trade with Canada, a lot of it is auto, some agriculture, some energy. It’s important to commerce. It’s important what we do with regards to the flow of people,” Stevens said.
“It is really important for us to get a strong new USMCA agreement, and that is what is caught up a little bit here with this,” Stevens added, connecting the bridge dispute to broader trade negotiations.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s team has been in discussions with Trump administration officials and Canadian representatives about the president’s remarks. "
It is important that it continues to move forward and open up on time. And that’s my expectation," Whitmer said.
Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall, a Republican who represents Richland Township, aligned with the president’s position.
“President Trump is using the right leverage points to renegotiate better agreements. That is smart. He is the ultimate deal maker, and he will make sure Michigan and the United States come out ahead,” Hall said in a statement.
During his visit to Washington, D.C., Hall is meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik. The bridge topic is likely to be a point of discussion, according to Hall’s spokesperson.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens criticized the president for spreading misinformation about the bridge partnership.
“Under normal times, building a span that links two nations like the United States and Canada would be a monumental moment where a prime minister would meet a president in the middle, shake hands, and everyone would celebrate this victory for two nations,” Dilkens said in a statement. “Unfortunately, Donald Trump has created an environment of uncertainty where I don’t think that is going to happen in the near term.”
Despite the controversy, Dilkens expressed optimism that the bridge will open later this year.
Construction of the bridge began in 2018, and it was originally scheduled to open last fall.
The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA), which will operate the crossing, has not publicly announced a new opening date.
The group has released the following statement:
Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority continues to make progress on the Gordie Howe International Bridge, jointly owned by Canada and Michigan, and on track for opening in early 2026. The development of the Gordie Howe International Bridge has been underway since 2000 with representatives from US and Canadian federal, Michigan, and Ontario governments collaborating to optimize the movement of people and goods through the critical Windsor-Detroit trade corridor. The Gordie Howe International Bridge project is bringing significant economic benefit across North America by encouraging investment, helping to maintain and create thousands of jobs, and generating new business and tourism opportunities.
Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority