Democrats have accused the Trump administration of deliberately stalling the opening of the $4.7bn Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, as a favor to a billionaire donor who owns a competing bridge. The delay, which pushed the ribbon-cutting from early June to a newly agreed July 27, has sparked bipartisan criticism and an investigation by the House oversight committee.
Bridge Opening Delayed Amid Dispute
The Gordie Howe bridge, a publicly owned project funded entirely by Canada, was initially set to open in early June after eight years of construction. However, the ceremony was abruptly canceled amid a dispute between US and Canadian officials. On July 10, Canada announced a deal with the US, securing the July 27 opening date. Under the new agreement, the US government must approve any toll reductions below regional averages, a condition that critics say protects the nearby Ambassador Bridge owned by Matthew Moroun.
Allegations of Quid Pro Quo
US Representative Rashida Tlaib, whose district includes southwest Detroit where both bridges sit, alleged that the Trump administration blocked the bridge’s opening as a favor to Moroun, a prolific campaign donor. Moroun donated $1m to a Trump political action committee in January and met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in February. Hours later, Trump posted on Truth Social threatening to block the bridge’s opening. “It appears that you may have used your influence as a donor to President Donald Trump to jeopardize American commerce to protect your company’s bottom line,” a February letter from Tlaib and Representative Robert Garcia to Moroun stated.
Moroun’s Stake in the Ambassador Bridge
Matthew Moroun owns the Ambassador Bridge, North America’s busiest international crossing, which sees up to 3m trucks annually. Moroun collects up to $100 per truck, but the 93-year-old bridge is often heavily congested, causing long delays that frustrate businesses. The bridge has also faced safety violations and narrow lanes considered dangerous for first responders. Moroun has fiercely opposed the new bridge for decades, fearing loss of business, and has launched multi-pronged attacks against the project while donating heavily at state and federal levels.
Political Fallout and Trade Context
The delay has become a political flashpoint. Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic Senate candidate, called it “a sordid tale of collusion, of corruption” in a campaign video. Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel said, “Trump’s chaos will lead to higher costs, fewer jobs, and greater uncertainty for our state’s auto industry.” The controversy unfolds amid broader US-Canada trade tensions, including Trump’s failure to renew the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement by a July 1 deadline and ongoing tariff disputes. Trump has made outlandish claims about conditions for opening the bridge, including extra fees on Chinese cars and a bizarre assertion that China would “terminate all ice hockey in Canada.”
Ownership and Operation
Canada paid for the Gordie Howe bridge’s construction, and it will be jointly owned and operated by Michigan and the Canadian government. Under a 2012 deal, toll revenues will be split 50-50 after Canada is reimbursed. The US already owns half the project, contrary to Trump’s claim that the US should own half. For the bridge to open, the federal government must staff the US entry plaza. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told the Senate appropriations committee on June 13, “We have the personnel dedicated, ready to move.” The House oversight committee is investigating the delay, and both Tlaib and Garcia have accused Moroun of trying to “derail the project.”
