Trump threatens to block $4B bridge Canada already paid for
Ambassador Bridge owner met Commerce Secretary hours before threat
Trump posted on Truth Social on Feb. 9, 2026 that he won't allow the Gordie Howe Bridge to open until the U.S. is fully compensated. He wrote that with all we've given them, we should own at least one half of this asset. He said Canada built it with virtually no U.S. content and called out Ontario for not putting U.S. alcohol on shelves and Canadian tariffs on U.S. dairy.
Key Concepts
Essential concepts and terms to understand this topic
Anti-Commandeering Doctrine
A constitutional rule preventing the federal government from forcing state or local officials to enforce federal law.
Federalist-Antifederalist Debate
The founding-era debate between those supporting the Constitution and those opposing ratification.
Interposition/Nullification
A rejected theory that states can nullify or block federal laws they consider unconstitutional.
Federalism
Power is divided between the federal government and state governments, each exercising authority in designated areas.
Key People
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Donald Trump
President of the United States
Trump posted on Feb. 9, 2026 threatening to block the bridge opening until the U.S. is compensated. He spoke with Commerce Secretary Lutnick by phone hours after Lutnick met with Moroun. Trump claimed the U.S. should own half the bridge and falsely said it was built with no U.S. content.
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Matthew Moroun
Chairman of Detroit International Bridge Company, Ambassador Bridge owner
Moroun met with Commerce Secretary Lutnick in Washington on Feb. 9, 2026. His family has spent millions fighting the Gordie Howe Bridge for over a decade. The new bridge threatens the Ambassador Bridge's monopoly on commercial truck tolls between Detroit and Windsor.
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Howard Lutnick
U.S. Secretary of Commerce
Lutnick met with Moroun on Feb. 9, 2026 in Washington. He spoke with Trump by phone after the meeting. Hours later, Trump posted the threat to block the bridge. Rep. Garcia launched an investigation into Lutnick's role and is demanding documents about the meeting.
Gretchen Whitmer
Governor of Michigan
Whitmer's office said the bridge is all about jobs and is good for Michigan workers and the auto industry. Her spokesperson confirmed Canada financed construction and the bridge will be operated under a joint ownership agreement between Michigan and Canada.
Mark Carney
Prime Minister of Canada
Carney spoke with Trump on Feb. 10 to clarify misconceptions. He explained that Canada paid for construction over $4 billion, ownership is shared between Michigan and Canada, and both Canadian and U.S. steel and workers were involved in construction.
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Rick Snyder
Former Governor of Michigan (Republican)
Snyder advocated for the bridge's construction during his governorship. He wrote a Feb. 10 op-ed in the Detroit News saying Trump was wrong about ownership and U.S. content. He said the only winner if Trump blocks the bridge is the Moroun family and Ambassador Bridge Company.
Robert Garcia
U.S. Representative (D-CA), House Oversight Committee member
Garcia launched an investigation on Feb. 11 into Lutnick's meeting with Moroun. He sent a letter demanding documents and communications between the Commerce Department and the Moroun family. He accused Lutnick of protecting a politically connected billionaire donor at the expense of American commerce.
What you can do
Contact the House Oversight Committee supporting the Lutnick investigation
civic action
Rep. Garcia is investigating whether Commerce Secretary Lutnick used his position to help a billionaire donor block a competing bridge. The investigation needs public support to ensure it's thorough and holds officials accountable for using government power to benefit private companies.
Contact Michigan representatives about protecting the bridge
civic action
Michigan businesses and workers depend on the bridge for trade with Canada. The Detroit-Windsor corridor is the busiest U.S.-Canada trade crossing. Blocking the bridge would cost Michigan jobs and raise costs for manufacturers. Representatives can press the White House to clarify how Trump plans to block an already-built bridge.
File ethics complaints about potential corruption
civic action
The sequence of events suggests Lutnick may have used his official position to benefit a private business. Citizens can file ethics complaints with the Office of Government Ethics requesting investigation into whether Lutnick violated conflict of interest rules.