February 13, 2026 | The Gordie Howe International Bridge Makes Donald Trump Furious

The Gordie Howe International Bridge isn’t even open yet, and it’s already stirring up political drama from Windsor to Washington.

This week, President Donald Trump lashed out on Truth Social, threatening to block the bridge’s opening — even though he personally supported the project during his first term and once called for its speedy completion.

So why the sudden shift?

Follow the Money — And the Monopoly

The real tension centers on the Moroun family, owners of the aging Ambassador Bridge, long the busiest commercial border crossing between Canada and the United States. Their private bridge has carried more than a quarter of all truck traffic across the border, especially in the auto sector.

A new publicly owned bridge means a major loss of revenue. Not just from tolls — the Ambassador Bridge benefits heavily from duty‑free fuel sales that avoid standard fuel taxes. For decades, the Morouns have fought to protect this monopoly, spending tens of millions on political donations, advertising campaigns, and lawsuits.

Even now, the family continues pushing back. Recent complaints about the new bridge reportedly reached influential allies — and appear to have sparked Trump’s latest outburst.

A Canadian Investment — Entirely

Despite the political noise, one fact is unmistakable: Canada paid for the entire project. That includes the bridge, land acquisition, U.S. and Canadian freeway connections, everything — at a total cost of roughly C$6.4 billion.

Canada will recover its investment through tolls collected only on the Canadian side. No tolls will be charged in the United States. Ownership of the completed bridge will be split evenly between the Canadian government and the State of Michigan.

Why the Bridge Matters

Beyond politics, the new span solves a major infrastructure problem. For years, the Ambassador Bridge has forced heavy commercial trucks through Windsor residential neighbourhoods, creating chronic congestion.

The new Gordie Howe crossing fixes that. It directly connects Highway 401 in Canada to Interstate 75 in the U.S., giving commercial traffic a smooth, uninterrupted route (see left centre). Up to 10,000 trucks a day are expected to shift to the new corridor, dramatically easing pressure on local streets. Note that in Windsor you must travel north to get to the U.S.!

Source: Google Maps

The benefits of this project to residents of Detroit, Windsor, Michigan, Ontario, Canada and the U.S. are substantial.

Politics, Economics, and… Branding?

Despite the controversy, construction is complete and regulators have continued moving forward. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has already designated the new span as an official port of entry as of March 2, clearing the way for a ribbon-cutting ceremony later in March.

And, in a twist that feels almost inevitable, some insiders are joking — or perhaps predicting — that the bridge may be renamed the Donald J. Trump International Bridge.

Hilliard MacBeth

The opinions expressed in this report are the opinions of the author and readers should not assume they reflect the opinions or recommendations of Richardson Wealth Limited or its affiliates. Richardson Wealth Limited is a subsidiary of iA Financial Corporation Inc. and is not affiliated with James Richardson & Sons, Limited. Richardson Wealth is a trade-mark of James Richardson & Sons, Limited and Richardson Wealth Limited is a licensed user of the mark. Richardson Wealth Limited, Member Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

Hilliard MacBeth February 13th, 2026

Posted In: Hilliard's Weekend Notebook

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