Whitmer says new US-Canadian bridge 'will open' after Trump threatened to block

“For the first time in over a century, a new bridge connecting Michigan to Canada, the Gordie Howe International Bridge, will open,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said

Published: February 26, 2026 8:50am

Michigan Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says that a new U.S.-Canadian bridge "will open" after President Trump recently threatened to block it.

“For the first time in over a century, a new bridge connecting Michigan to Canada, the Gordie Howe International Bridge, will open,” Whitmer said Wednesday during the Michigan State of the State address, according to news outlet The Hill.

Trump threatened earlier this month to prevent the opening of the bridge, which will connect Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, in an apparent attempt to push Canada into entering trade talks.

“I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them, and also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve,” Trump said.

The bridge's construction began in 2018, and it is set to open later this year.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said a day after Trump’s threat that he had a “positive” conversation with the president.

“We discussed the bridge. I explained that Canada, of course, paid for the construction of the bridge, over $4 billion, that the ownership is shared between the state of Michigan and the government of Canada and that in the construction of the bridge — obviously there’s Canadian steel, Canadian workers — but also U.S. steel, U.S. workers that are involved. This is a great example of cooperation between our countries,” Carney said.

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