Trump claims China will ‘terminate ALL ice hockey’ in Canada if trade deals happen, but Michigan officials say that makes no sense

President Donald Trump has threatened to stop the new Gordie Howe International Bridge from opening until the United States gets paid back. The bridge is a major project that connects Michigan and Ontario across the Detroit River. Officials on both sides have been working on this 1.6-mile bridge for decades.

According to The Independent, Trump wrote on his social media that he will not let the bridge open until America is “fully compensated for everything we have given them.” He also said Canada must treat the US with fairness and respect. He even demanded that the United States should own “perhaps, at least one half of this asset.”

The president also made a strange claim about China. He said if Canada makes new trade deals with China, the country will “terminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada, and permanently eliminate The Stanley Cup.” He accused Canada of “taking advantage of America” and said the US gets “Absolutely NOTHING!” from the bridge deal.

Canada paid for the entire bridge project

The problem with Trump’s threat is that Canada paid for the whole bridge by itself. The Gordie Howe International Bridge has been under construction since 2018, and the Canadian government funded it completely. Canada plans to get its money back by collecting tolls from people who use the bridge.

Michigan officials quickly spoke out against Trump’s threat. Senator Elissa Slotkin called the bridge an “incredibly important infrastructure project.” She said blocking it would cause serious damage to Michigan’s economy. She also said the president is “punishing Michiganders for a trade war he started.”

Representative Debbie Dingell reminded everyone that a Republican governor negotiated this bridge deal. She also pointed out that Trump himself supported the project back in 2017. “We cannot forget Canada is our friend and ally. We have to stop these cheap shots… I look forward to the ribbon-cutting,” she said. This latest move comes as the Trump administration escalates deportation actions across the country.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office pushed back against the threat too. A spokesperson said union workers from both countries built the bridge. The bridge will operate under a joint ownership agreement between Michigan and Canada. They made it clear that “It’s going to open one way or another.”

Senator Gary Peters said Trump’s claims are “completely backwards.” He explained that Michigan’s economy is already closely connected with Canada. He said Michigan residents have wanted a new bridge for years. Meanwhile, concerns grow about Trump’s temporary tax refund promises and their long-term impact. The bridge is named after Gordie Howe, a famous Detroit hockey player and Canadian legend known as ‘Mr Hockey.’