TRUMP FROZEN IN SHOCK as $6.4B Bridge BLOCKADE Plan IMPLODES — CARNEY’S FOUR-SENTENCE FACT CHECK
A dramatic escalation in U.S.-Canada trade tensions unfolded when President Donald Trump threatened to block the opening of the $6.4 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge. The project, fully funded by Canada with joint ownership granted to Michigan, quickly became the centerpiece of a high-stakes political standoff.
Mark Carney, Canada’s Prime Minister, responded with a concise four-sentence call to Trump that corrected key factual inaccuracies. The exchange highlighted deep divisions over cross-border infrastructure and trade policy.
Background on the Gordie Howe International Bridge
The Gordie Howe International Bridge is a major infrastructure project connecting Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, Michigan. Canada covered the entire $6.4 billion construction cost while granting Michigan joint ownership of the completed bridge at no charge.
Under the 2012 Canada-Michigan Crossing Agreement, Michigan will receive 50% of net toll revenues once Canada recoups its costs. The agreement was signed by Michigan’s Republican Governor Rick Snyder and approved by the U.S. Department of State in 2013.
American steel and American workers contributed to construction on the Michigan side. Both Canadian and American workers participated in building the bridge.
Trump’s Threat and Its Immediate Context
President Trump posted on Truth Social on February 9, 2026, threatening to prevent the bridge from opening. The statement claimed Canada owned both sides and that the United States required compensation.
The threat came amid growing frustrations in Washington over several Canadian actions. Ontario ran television advertisements criticizing U.S. tariffs, banned American alcoholic beverages from provincial stores in retaliation, and Prime Minister Carney finalized a trade deal with China that reduced canola tariffs from 85% to 15% while opening $7 billion in new export markets.
Trump’s post explicitly referenced Ontario’s alcohol ban, Canadian dairy protections, and Carney’s agreement with Beijing. The Gordie Howe Bridge was positioned as leverage in these broader trade disputes.
Carney’s Four-Sentence Response
The morning after Trump’s post, Mark Carney called President Trump directly. In four clear sentences, Carney outlined the facts: Canada paid $4 billion to build the bridge, Michigan and Canada share joint ownership under the 2012 agreement, both Canadian and American steel were used, and workers from both countries constructed it.
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Carney later told reporters the conversation was positive and described the bridge as a strong example of bilateral cooperation. He expressed forward-looking optimism about its opening and emphasized benefits for commerce, tourism, and daily crossings.
Michigan Leaders Push Back Strongly
Michigan’s political figures across party lines quickly challenged the threat. Former Republican Governor Rick Snyder, who negotiated the original 2012 agreement, published a column in the Detroit News correcting Trump’s claims point by point.
Snyder noted that Michigan received 50% ownership and future revenue rights without contributing any funds. He argued that blocking the bridge would primarily harm Americans, particularly Michigan workers, businesses, and the auto industry.
Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin warned of serious repercussions for Michigan’s supply chains and higher costs for consumers. Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office highlighted the bridge’s role in creating jobs and supporting the auto sector through bipartisan and international cooperation.
The Ambassador Bridge Monopoly and the Moroun Family
The existing Ambassador Bridge, built in 1929 and owned by the Moroun family since 1979, currently handles nearly all heavy commercial truck traffic between Detroit and Windsor. The tunnel prohibits commercial trucks, giving the Moroun family a near-monopoly that generates more than $60 million annually in tolls.
The Moroun family has spent approximately $30 million over two decades fighting the Gordie Howe project through lawsuits, ballot initiatives, and lobbying. Rick Snyder explicitly stated in his column that the Moroun family would be the primary beneficiary if Trump’s threat succeeded in delaying or blocking the new bridge.
Economic and Strategic Benefits of the Gordie Howe Bridge
The Gordie Howe Bridge connects directly to Ontario Highway 401 and Interstate 75, eliminating the need for trucks to navigate city streets and traffic lights on the Canadian side. A University of Windsor study estimates it will reduce commercial crossing times by up to 20 minutes, generating $2.3 billion in savings over 30 years for truckers and industries.
The new crossing provides critical redundancy for North American supply chains. If the Ambassador Bridge faces any disruption, heavy truck traffic currently has no alternative route, threatening the integrated auto industry that crosses the border multiple times during vehicle production.
Implications for U.S.-Canada Trade Relations
Trump’s administration previously endorsed the bridge. In 2017, Trump signed a joint statement with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling it a vital economic link, and in 2019 his administration approved $15 million in U.S. customs funding.
The bridge’s ownership structure and funding details have remained unchanged since those endorsements. Carney’s response focused on stating verified facts without escalating into new threats or counter-tariffs.
The standoff underscores ongoing challenges in managing bilateral trade disputes. Michigan leaders emphasized that the project benefits American auto manufacturers, agricultural shippers, and logistics companies on both sides of the border.
As the Gordie Howe International Bridge moves toward its scheduled opening, the episode reveals tensions between political leverage and established infrastructure agreements. The project’s completion promises improved efficiency, economic resilience, and stronger cross-border ties despite recent friction.
