Photo credit: Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority
‘I Don’t Think He Has the Power to Do So’: How People in Detroit Are Reacting to Trump’s Bridge Threat
February 17, 2026
CTV News
February 10, 2026
Sanjay Maru, Michelle Maluske
Business leaders and residents in Detroit are urging the Gordie Howe International Bridge to move forward as planned, after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested he could block the crossing’s opening. Trump made the comments in a Truth Social post Monday, criticizing the project’s financing and suggesting the United States should be “fully compensated” before the bridge opens. In Detroit, reaction has focused less on politics and more on the longstanding economic and personal ties between the two border cities.
Glenn Stevens [Jr.], Chief Automotive and Innovation Officer for the Detroit Regional Chamber, says the bridge is a critical symbol of cross-border cooperation. “The first and most important thing we want Canadians to know is that Michiganders are very appreciative of our partners and our friends and our neighbours,” Stevens said. “So, it’s really important for us to open up this new international crossing.”
He says the chamber has been involved in discussions around the crossing for years and believes the new link is essential to the region’s future. When asked what he would say to Trump if they met face to face, Stevens points to the movement of workers and the bridge’s security benefits.
“We have nurses and doctors that live in the Windsor community, work in our systems and go back and forth,” he said. “This bridge is also designed, engineered and built with the latest, modern, high-tech information and intelligent transportation system technology. So having that bridge open will improve security for both our countries and is really good for both of us,” he added.