It's a classic case of political whiplash. Just a few years ago, former President Donald Trump was singing the praises of the new Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario. Now, he's railing against the very same project, threatening tariffs that could cripple its purpose. What changed?
From Praise to Protectionism
Back in 2018, when construction first began on the $6.4 billion bridge project, Trump lauded it as a "monumental" achievement for U.S.-Canada relations. At the time, he had just renegotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement, rebranding it as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Trump touted the new deal as a win for American workers and a framework to strengthen economic ties between the three countries.
However, Trump's tone shifted dramatically in 2026, when he began singling out Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and calling for "freebies" Canada receives from the U.S. to end. The president threatened a 100% tariff on all Canadian imports if the country made a trade deal with China, claiming "China will eat Canada alive."
Damaging Cross-Border Commerce
What this really means is that Trump is willing to undermine a critical piece of cross-border infrastructure in pursuit of his America First protectionist agenda. The Gordie Howe Bridge was envisioned as a way to facilitate the $760 million in daily trade that flows between the U.S. and Canada, the world's largest bilateral trading relationship.
However, Trump's tariffs and threats could end up turning the bridge into a "white elephant" - an expensive project with little practical use. Flavio Volpe of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association in Canada warned that "ground zero for the impact of a 25% tariff in automotive is Detroit-Windsor."
Straining Vital Ties
The bigger picture here is that Trump's actions are straining the vital economic and geopolitical ties between the U.S. and its closest ally. Even when Trump temporarily backed down on tariffs against Canada and Mexico, it was a temporary reprieve in an ongoing trade war that has damaged trust and cooperation.
As The New Republic reported, the Gordie Howe Bridge was meant to be a "joyful celebration" of the close Canada-U.S. relationship. Instead, it risks becoming a monument to Trump's brand of go-it-alone nationalism that has alienated allies and disrupted vital supply chains. The future of this bridge, and the broader economic ties it represents, hang in the balance.