U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of a new bridge linking the United States and Canada if the U.S. does not own half of it.
Trump issued another threat to Canada via a post on the Truth Social platform, stating, "I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given to Canada. Importantly, Canada must treat the United States with the fairness and respect we deserve."
Trump asserted that the U.S. should own at least half of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which is currently under construction and connects Michigan in the U.S. with Ontario in Canada, despite the fact that the project is a major infrastructure initiative primarily driven by the Canadian government.
The bridge's construction budget is about 4.7 billion U.S. dollars. Construction began in 2018, and it is scheduled to open within this year. It is named after Gordie Howe, a Canadian NHL ice hockey legend.
The U.S. leader also criticized that Canada owns both ends of the bridge and hardly used American materials in its construction. He also referred to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s efforts to make a deal with China, saying China would swallow up all of Canada, and that the U.S. would not allow itself to be disadvantaged.
Previously, the Washington government threatened to impose import tariffs on Canadian goods as high as 100 percent after Prime Minister Carney visited Beijing last month and reached a preliminary trade agreement with China.
Trump repeated claims that China might halt all ice hockey competitions in Canada, a statement that has drawn widespread criticism.
Since Trump resumed the presidency in January 2025, trade relations between the U.S. and Canada have faced ongoing turbulence. Previously, Trump even called for the U.S. to annex Canada as the 51st state, though he has since toned down such statements.
Prime Minister Carney warned at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month that the U.S.-led global regulatory system is showing cracks and urged middle-sized countries to band together amid global turmoil.
Click to read news aboutTrump