Trump threatens to stop Ontario-Michigan bridge from opening and slams Obama for waiver letting Canada bypass Buy American protections

President Donald Trump has threatened to stop the opening of the massive Ontario–Michigan bridge linking Windsor and Detroit, blasting former President Barack Obama for granting Canada a waiver that allowed the project to bypass Buy American protections.

In a blistering post to his Truth Social on Monday evening, Trump accused Canada of exploiting the US and vowed he would block the Gordie Howe International Bridge from opening unless America is compensated and treated with what he called ‘Fairness and Respect.’

‘President Barack Hussein Obama stupidly gave them a waiver so they could get around the BUY AMERICAN Act, and not use any American products, including our Steel,’ Trump wrote.

Trump declared he would halt the long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge unless the United States receives compensation, claiming Canada had benefited unfairly from American concessions.

‘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 wrote.

The president’s extraordinary threat targets one of the most consequential infrastructure projects on the northern border. The towering cable-stayed span across the Detroit River is expected to transform trade and transportation between the two countries.

Trump’s post unleashed a sweeping indictment of the project and Canada’s role in it, arguing that the United States had been sidelined in the construction of a bridge connecting its own territory.

‘As everyone knows, the Country of Canada has treated the United States very unfairly for decades,’ Trump wrote.

‘But imagine, Canada is building a massive bridge between Ontario and Michigan. They own both the Canada and the United States side and, of course, built it with virtually no US content.’

He singled out Obama, accusing his predecessor of undermining American industry.

‘President Barack Hussein Obama stupidly gave them a waiver so they could get around the BUY AMERICAN Act, and not use any American products, including our Steel,’ Trump wrote.

Trump went even further, suggesting the United States should hold an ownership stake in the project.

‘With all that we have given them, we should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset,’ he said, adding: ‘The revenues generated because of the US Market will be astronomical.’

Trump’s anger centers on a waiver negotiated during Obama’s presidency that allowed the bridge to bypass strict ‘Buy American’ requirements.

The waiver permitted the use of both Canadian and American iron and steel in construction, rather than mandating exclusively US-produced materials.

Trump framed the decision as a betrayal of American workers and industry.

‘What does the United States of America get – Absolutely NOTHING!’ he wrote.

He also accused Canada of broader economic hostility, citing trade disputes and market access issues.

‘The Tariffs Canada charges us for our Dairy products have, for many years, been unacceptable, putting our Farmers at great financial risk,’ Trump said.

Trump’s warning immediately triggered alarm among Michigan officials and lawmakers, who warned that blocking the bridge could devastate regional economic growth.

Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin condemned the threat, saying it would hurt American workers and businesses.

‘Canceling this project will have serious repercussions. Higher costs for Michigan businesses, less secure supply chains, and ultimately, fewer jobs,’ Slotkin said in a statement.

She accused Trump of undermining American interests in pursuit of political retaliation.

‘With this threat, the president is punishing Michiganders for a trade war he started,’ she said. ‘Canada is our friend – not our enemy.’

Slotkin added: ‘And I will do everything in my power to get this critical project back on track.’

The Gordie Howe International Bridge spans the Detroit River, connecting southwest Detroit with Windsor, Ontario, and is expected to open later this year after years of construction and political wrangling.

Once operational, it will serve as a major commercial artery, providing direct access to Interstate 75 and Interstate 96 in Michigan and Highway 401 in Ontario—critical routes for cross-border trade between two deeply intertwined economies.

The crossing will also become the largest land port of entry between Canada and the United States, standing roughly 150 feet above the river and rising to 720 feet at its tallest towers.

Approximately 6,000 commuters are expected to travel across the bridge daily, while commercial traffic is projected to reshape supply chains between the two countries.

The project is overseen by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority and was negotiated under a 2012 agreement between Canada and Michigan.

Under that deal, Canada agreed to finance the entire construction cost, with plans to recoup its investment through toll revenues once the bridge opens.