In one short year, Donald Trump has turned Canada from America’s greatest ally into an adversary. The president’s latest issue with the neighbors to the north is that Canada has built a bridge connecting Ontario to Michigan.
Taking to Truth Social, Trump announced that he plans to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge. The president hasn’t elaborated exactly how he plans to block it, but he said “negotiations” to change his mind are already underway.
“Ontario won’t even put U.S. spirits, beverages, and other alcoholic products on their shelves; they are absolutely prohibited from doing so, and now, on top of everything else, Prime Minister Carney wants to make a deal with China — which will eat Canada alive. We’ll just get the leftovers! I don’t think so.”
According to the president, the bridge should not open until Canada “fully compensates for everything.”
The BBC reports that Canada fully funded the bridge for a hefty price of between $5 billion and $6.4 billion. The original intention of the bridge was to reduce congestion and improve trade efficiency between the two countries. But after the U.S. side (federal and Michigan) refused to contribute, Canada decided to foot the entire bill in hopes of recouping the money through tolls. Thanks to a presidential permit, Canada was finally able to kick off construction of the six-lane, cable-stayed bridge — currently the longest bridge in North America.
“We’ll just get the leftovers!”
Now Trump is “blaming” the bridge on his predecessor, Barack Obama, with whom he already has other substantial issues. Trump called Obama’s decision “stupid” and somehow tied it to ice hockey — claiming China will “terminate” the sport. Trump has declared that even though Canada campaigned for years to get a presidential permit and then fully built it with their own money, they should now also let the U.S. own the bridge.
Trump’s latest Canada target: the Gordie Howe bridge, which Canada paid for because the U.S. refused to split the cost. Now Trump is seeking half US ownership. pic.twitter.com/Aqc46rp6MH
— Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) February 9, 2026
Geopolitical negotiations are complex. For Trump, this is likely just a starting point, and even in his post, he concedes that he’s willing to settle for half ownership. Canada is likely to come to the negotiating table and find a deal that works for both nations. But this won’t make the relationship between the neighbors “better.” It will only fuel resentment in Canada and push them even closer to China.
However, what most people might not understand about Trump’s latest post is what ice hockey has to do with this complex post–Trump tariffs–Canada relationship. Well, Canada has chosen to name the bridge after national ice hockey legend Gordie Howe.
If you’re wondering what that has to do with Trump – the answer is: not enough. Trump is currently slowing down infrastructure projects in New York City until they bear his name. It’s not out of the realm of imagination that he also has a problem with another infrastructure project bearing someone else’s name. That likely explains why Trump is claiming that China will somehow “eliminate” ice hockey in Canada anyway.
If the goal is truly to improve Canada–U.S. trade relations, the administration should champion the vital links that provide benefits to small-scale traders.
