One more day. One more billionaire with a direct line to Donald Trump. One more political move cooked up behind closed doors. One more hit that hurts working families in Michigan and the American people who can least afford it.
Why is President Trump suddenly trying to block the Gordie Howe International Bridge that’s expected to open soon and connect Michigan and Canada? Could it be his desire to create chaos and more distractions, the fact that he’s fighting with Canada, or possibly it’s because a billionaire donor appears to have asked Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for a favor? My guess is that it’s all three.
Why is President Trump suddenly trying to block the Gordie Howe International Bridge that’s expected to open soon and connect Michigan and Canada?
The busiest northern border crossing in the United States is the one between Detroit and Windsor, Canada. Billions of dollars of manufacturing and agricultural goods cross this border every day, as well as essential workers and professionals.
This corridor is economically vital for the United States and crucially important to our national security.
Currently, a single, privately owned toll bridge, the Ambassador Bridge, dominates this critical trade corridor. It is owned by the billionaire Moroun family. For decades, policymakers on both sides of the aisle, security experts and business leaders have agreed on the necessity of a second bridge, both for our national security as well as issues related to costs and the flow of commerce.
But the Moroun family has relentlessly fought to maintain its monopoly on controlling the only international bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor so it can make as much money as possible. The family’s fight demonstrates why it’s a bad idea to have major infrastructure assets owned by a private company that is focused on its own financial interests and not on what’s best for our country.
The Morouns have spent significant time and money lobbying in Lansing and Washington. In 2012, they attempted to pass a ballot initiative in Michigan to stop a second bridge. Now they appear to want to use their money to get the president to help them stop this critical project.
The New York Times, citing two officials briefed on the meeting, reported Tuesday that Matthew Moroun met with Lutnick, who then phoned the president. Just a few hours later, President Trump made his announcement, posting on social media that he wanted to block the opening of the completed bridge. U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell told the Detroit Free Press that she’d been told that Moroun met Lutnick before Trump announced he wanted to block the bridge. But neither the Commerce Department nor Moroun has confirmed the meeting.
In his social media post. Trump demanded that Canada turn over at least half of the ownership of the bridge to the U.S. and agree to other unspecified demands.
The bridge is jointly owned by Michigan and Canada. Any claims by the administration stating otherwise are false.
I met with the Canadian transportation minister to first propose the financing arrangement for the Gordie Howe bridge. Despite Canada fronting all the construction costs, the bridge is jointly owned by Michigan and Canada. Any claims by the administration stating otherwise are false.
Despite then Republican Gov. Rick Snyder’s strong support and his efforts to get funding from the state legislature, his fellow Republicans would not vote for the project. At the same time, the Moroun family was highly active in political giving, shaping a political environment that consistently blocked positive action.
We were fortunate, then, that Canada was willing to provide the upfront financing for the entire bridge and be repaid with interest from collected tolls. Canada agreed to this approach so we could finally get the bridge built. This was before President Joe Biden’s 2021 infrastructure bill, and at that time, the federal government did not have the resources. Funds were tight, making it difficult to move the project forward without significant state participation.
We had a very strong working relationship with Canada and great mutual trust and respect. If this project were being proposed today, I doubt Canada would respond in the same way, given how the Trump administration has disrespected the country. The Gordie Howe International Bridge is so much more than a new border crossing between the U.S. and Canada. It is a generational investment in our economy, national security and supply chain reliability. It will strengthen manufacturing, agriculture and commerce while reducing congestion and security vulnerability. The bridge’s crucial role is why an unusually broad coalition is standing in support of it. Major business leaders across the state, organized labor, farmers, automakers, small businesses, national security experts, Michigan’s governor and legislators at the national and state level all agree that the bridge is essential infrastructure for a competitive economy and a secure nation. Trump narrowly won Michigan in 2024, but since then, he has done nothing but turn his back on our state. Trump narrowly won Michigan in 2024, but since then, he has done nothing but turn his back on our state. Tariffs have caused us to lose manufacturing jobs, our farmers are hurting, there is uncertainty for businesses large and small, and health care costs are up, as well as other everyday costs for families. Now the president wants to raise our costs even more by stopping a major infrastructure project that is on the verge of opening, just as a favor to a billionaire donor. And once again, Republican candidates for U.S. Senate and governor in Michigan are blindly defending Trump and turning their backs on Michigan. They have sacrificed the interests of the people of our state to serve billionaires and Donald Trump’s political agenda. It’s time to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge and celebrate the win with our friends in Canada.
Ingham County Board of Commission, Michigan State Legislature, U.S. House of Representatives and United States Senate in high-profile, competitive races.
Debbie Stabenow had a distinguished 50-year career as an elected official in Michigan, beginning in 1974 when she was elected to the Ingham County Board of Commissioners. She went on to serve as
a Michigan state legislator, a U.S. representative and as a U.S. senator from 2001 until she retired in 2025. 
