US President Donald Trump has threatened that he may not permit the opening of a new bridge linking the United States with Canada unless the US owns half of it.
Donald Trump threatened Canada again, posting on the Truth Social platform: "I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given to Canada, and importantly, Canada must treat the United States with the fairness and respect we deserve."
Trump stated that the United States should own at least half of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which is under construction and will connect Michigan in the US with Ontario in Canada, even though the project is a major infrastructure initiative primarily driven by the Canadian government.
The bridge’s construction budget is about 4.7 billion US dollars. Construction began in 2018, with plans to open it within this year. It is named after Gordie Howe, a legendary Canadian NHL ice hockey player.
The US leader also accused Canada of owning both sides of the bridge and barely using US goods in its construction. He referenced Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s efforts to make a deal with China, saying China will swallow up all of Canada and that the US will not allow itself to be disadvantaged.
Previously, the Washington government threatened to impose import tariffs as high as 100% on Canadian goods after Prime Minister Carney visited Beijing last month and reached a preliminary trade agreement with China.
Trump also reiterated claims that China might end 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 US and Canada have been continuously strained. He had even called for the US to annex Canada as the 51st state, though he has since toned down such remarks.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Carney warned at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month that the US-led global regulatory system is facing cracks and urged medium-sized countries to band together amid global turmoil.
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