Billionaire owner of Ambassador Bridge met Trump official hours before Gordie Howe Bridge post: NYT report

After a direct call between Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, attention turned to what comes next for the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

Carney said he told Trump that Canada paid “over $4 billion” for the bridge’s construction, and that ownership is shared with the state of Michigan, calling the project a “great example of co-operation” between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the New York Times reported that a Detroit-based billionaire who owns the Ambassador Bridge met with a White House official just hours before Trump posted his threat to halt the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge.

Also, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is pushing back against the president’s social media threats, saying the Gordie Howe Bridge was made with “union labour” on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border.

Here’s what happened on Feb. 10, 2026.

Ambassador Bridge owner met White House official before Trump’s post: NYT report

Matthew Moroun, whose family has operated the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor, Ont., and Detroit, Mich., for decades, met with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick just hours before Trump threatened to block the opening of the nearby Gordie Howe International Bridge, the New York Times reported Tuesday.

Sources told The Times that Lutnick spoke with Trump by phone about the matter after the meeting with Moroun. The president would post his threats about not allowing the bridge to open just before 6 p.m. ET on Monday.

The Moroun family has made numerous efforts to stop the construction of another bridge between Windsor and Detroit. Matthew’s father, Manuel “Matty” Moroun, who died in 2020, publicly appealed to Trump during his first term in 2018 to revoke a presidential permit that former U.S. president Barack Obama granted to greenlight construction of the Gordie Howe Bridge.

Tammy Ebrahimpour, CTVNews.ca digital producer

With files from The New York Times

Michigan governor pushes back against Trump’s bridge threats

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer told reporters Tuesday that the Gordie Howe International Bridge was made with “union labour on both sides … including Michiganders.”

She called the crossing “a really important part of our economy,” describing it as “the largest crossing in North America.”

“It is important that it continues to move forward and open up on time,” Whitmer said. “And that’s my expectation.”

Travis Fortnum, CTV News Windsor journalist

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‘We love Canada here’: How people in Detroit are reacting to Trump

Business leaders and residents in Detroit are urging the Gordie Howe International Bridge to move forward as planned, calling the project a symbol of cross-border co-operation.

“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,” Glenn Stevens, chief automotive and innovation officer for the Detroit Regional Chamber, told CTV News Windsor. “So, it’s really important for us to open up this new international crossing.”

Several Detroit residents CTV News Windsor spoke with also voiced support for the bridge, while expressing positive views of Canadians.

“They’re our neighbours to the north. We love hockey. We love Detroit. We love Canada here,” said Andy H., treating Trump’s threat to block the opening of the bridge with skepticism.

“I don’t think he has the power to do so,” he said. “That’s just my opinion.”

Sanjay Maru and Stefanie Masotti, CTV News Windsor

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Carney spoke with Trump about bridge

On his way into a cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill Tuesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney said he spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump about the bridge.

He said the two first discussed the upcoming hockey game between Canada and the U.S. at the Olympics, and secondly a “number of international issues.”

“Thirdly, we discussed the bridge,” he said. “I explained that Canada, of course, paid for the construction of the bridge, over $4 billion, that the ownership is shared between the state of Michigan and the Government of Canada, and that in the construction of the bridge, obviously there’s Canadian steel, Canadian workers, but also U.S. steel, U.S. workers that are involved, (and) this is a great example of co-operation between our countries.”

“The situation will be resolved,” he said in French.

Carney added that U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra — who is from Michigan — may “play a role in smoothing the conversation in and around the bridge,” at Trump’s request.

Spencer Van Dyk, writer & producer, Ottawa News Bureau, CTV News

White House Press Secretary on the bridge

During a press conference, a reporter asked White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt why U.S. President Donald Trump changed course on the building of the bridge.

“The president in 2017 was actually in favour of this bridge… why has the president changed his mind?” the reporter asked.

Leavitt referred to Trump’s Truth Social post, adding that it’s “unacceptable” that the bridge “isn’t being built with more American-made materials.

She said Trump’s position was made clear during a phone call with Prime Minister Mark Carney earlier this morning.

Lynn Chaya, CTVNews.ca journalist

Trump ‘cherry-picking issues’: Windsor mayor

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said Trump’s comments about the bridge are “par for the course,” with the U.S. president being “notorious for cherry-picking issues.”

“Whether it’s steel, auto, aluminum, softwood lumber, dairy, he wants to cherry-pick those issues and get a win on each individual one, in a year when we’re supposed to sit down and have a negotiation about our comprehensive trade agreement with the United States and Mexico,” Dilkens said. “And so, to see him link in alcohol and Ontario, LCBO stores and a whole host of other issues, not a surprise to me to see him post that last night.”

In an interview with CTV News Channel on Tuesday, Dilkens said while no one should underestimate Trump’s posts or threats, he’s “comforted” that the Gordie Howe bridge has been an ongoing discussion for more than two decades.

“Think of successive prime ministers, presidents, governors, premiers and mayors that have been involved in moving this project forward, and the bridge is fully constructed,” he said. “We’re literally just waiting to cut the ribbon and to open the bridge.”

Dilkens said he has not yet spoken with Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield about Trump’s threats.

Spencer Van Dyk, writer & producer, Ottawa News Bureau, CTV News

Trump ‘wrong’ about bridge: former governor

Former Michigan governor Rick Snyder, who played a key role in the bridge while he was in office from 2011 to 2019, wrote in a statement that Trump is “wrong” in his categorization of the project.

“Canada was wonderful and financed the entire bridge,” Snyder wrote, in response to Trump’s assertion that Canada owns both sides of the structure. “They will get repaid with interest from the tolls.”

“Michigan and the United States got their half-ownership with no investment,” he added. “That is a great deal.”

Snyder’s statement, which is being posted as an op-ed in The Detroit News on Tuesday, was also sent to CTV News.

The former governor wrote that while he keeps “a low profile,” the statements in Trump’s Truth Social post warrant a correction. The op-ed parses through the president’s post with Snyder’s commentary, for example on the questions of the Buy America Act waiver and the bridge’s ownership.

“Given the size of each country’s economy, the negative impacts of a bridge delay are felt much more on the U.S. side,” Snyder wrote. “Overall, U.S. citizens would be the largest losers in a bridge delay or stoppage.”

“President Trump, I would encourage you to challenge your advisors and the sources for your post to correct the information they have provided,” he added.

Spencer Van Dyk, writer & producer, Ottawa News Bureau, CTV News

With files from CTV News’ Brennan MacDonald

‘I won’t be playing these games’: Ford on Trump threats

Appearing on ABC News Live on Tuesday afternoon, Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his confidence that the bridge will open as scheduled, despite Trump’s threat.

“I find it ironic what President Trump is saying. When he was president in 2017, he ordered to fast-track the project,” Ford told anchor Kyra Phillips, pointing out the fact that even though the project was funded by Canada, the construction saw the use of American steel and concrete.

“We’re going to move forward, and I’m very confident it’s going to be open. If not, it’s going to hurt Michigan, it’s going to hurt their economy and the rest of the country,” he added.

When asked what he thinks Trump wants out of this, the premier admitted he didn’t know.

But Ford added that he “wouldn’t be playing these games,” given that all of Michigan’s seats in the House of Representatives are up for election in the U.S. midterms in November, seven of which are Republican.

“Just imagine if President Trump didn’t talk about this rhetoric, we’d be just thriving,” he said. “There’s a lot of uncertainty in the U.S. There’s uncertainty in Canada. So, let’s come together and continue with our fantastic relationship we’ve had for 200 years.

“I’m still confident he’ll come to his senses and understand this is beneficial, especially for people in the U.S. and the economy in Michigan,” Ford added.

Bryann Aguilar, journalist, CP24.com

U.S. trade rep says ‘we’ve been hearing some concerns’

In a television interview with Fox News on Tuesday morning, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Trump has a “valid concern” that the bridge was allowed to be built in the first place.

“They didn’t necessarily use American content in a bridge that’s going into the United States, there’s a question as to the proceeds of tolls, etcetera, so there’s going to be a negotiation on that front,” he said.

“If it’s going to be going into the U.S., which is the main economy … the United States needs to make sure that it has its fair share of any proceeds from the bridge and the economic activity that it generates.”

When asked about the U.S. administration’s understanding of the bridge’s revenue structure, Greer said he hadn’t “read all of the documents,” but said “we’ve been hearing some concerns,” noting that the U.S. has “more of a say” when it comes to the existing Ambassador Bridge.

Owned by American businessman Matthew Moroun via the Detroit International Bridge Company, the Ambassador Bridge sits east of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, where it also crosses the Detroit River and is the main point of entry between Ontario and Michigan.

Jordan Fleguel, CTVNews.ca journalist

Ford ‘confident’ bridge will open

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he is happy to hear that Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump about the Windsor-Detroit bridge.

Ford adds that he is “confident” the Gordie Howe International Bridge will open as scheduled, as it is in the best interest of the American economy.

“This is my message to the prime minister and the people of Canada: this is not the time to roll over and let President Trump take advantage of us,” Ford said.

“He keeps saying that we’ve taken advantage of the Americans, contrary to what I believe. It’s the other way around,” Ford added. “But we want a strong relationship with our closest friend and ally, and we’re going to continue moving forward. But you got to ignore all the rhetoric.”

Bryann Aguilar, journalist, CP24.com

White House defers to Karoline Leavitt

CTV News asked the White House for a statement on Carney and Trump’s call Tuesday morning. In response, a spokesperson said CTV News should “refer to Karoline’s comments during the briefing.”

Spencer Van Dyk, writer & producer, Ottawa News Bureau, CTV News

With files from CTV News’ Stephanie Ha

‘A bridge is both ways’: Champagne

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne was asked on his way into Tuesday’s cabinet meeting whether he’s worried about the bridge.

In response, he said the “key message” is to remind U.S. officials that Canada is their biggest customer, and that infrastructure like the Gordie Howe International Bridge “serves both nations.”

“As far as I know, a bridge is both ways,” Champagne said. “So, it’s always good to remind that to our American friends.”

“And a decision on one side of the border always has an impact on both,” he added.

Asked whether he believes the bridge will not be folded into the upcoming Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) review, Champagne said he doesn’t think so.

“I don’t have a crystal ball, but you’re talking about an asset that serves the interests of both nations,” he said.

Spencer Van Dyk, writer & producer, Ottawa News Bureau, CTV News

Ford on Jivani trip, conversations with Lutnick

Last week, Conservative MP Jamil Jivani, who is a longtime friend of U.S. Vice-President JD Vance, visited Washington to meet with several American officials, including some in the Trump administration.

Asked whether he believes that trip could have affected Trump’s view on the bridge, Ford said he does not know what conversations Jivani had.

“I’m not too sure what conversation happened, but I encourage everyone to go down,” he said. “Every stakeholder, every corporation, every business owner, every premier ... the prime minister encouraged the premiers to continue to advocate for Canada.”

“So wherever we can, let’s get our voice out there, especially down to President Trump and his team, that we’re open for business and we’re stronger together than we are apart.”

Jivani said in a social media post last week that his meetings with U.S. officials were “positive.”

Ford was also asked whether he’s been in touch with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in the last month.

“I haven’t talked to him personally, but he plays an important role like the rest of the administration,” the premier said.

“But again, no matter if it’s Howard Lutnick or President Trump or anyone, you’re so much stronger with the Am-Can Fortress that I’ve been preaching for a long time,” he added. “As we’re under attack by foreign countries in different ways, we need to stick together. We’d be the strongest, richest, wealthiest, safest two countries in the entire world. That’s what I’ve been advocating.”

More than a year ago, Ford pitched a “renewed strategic alliance” between the two countries, dubbed “Fortress Am-Can.”

Bryann Aguilar, journalist, CP24.com

Ford doubles down on American liquor ban

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he is not going to reinstate American liquor on LCBO shelves despite Trump’s comments.

“I encourage people not to back off,” Ford said, noting that as long as tariffs on Canadian products remain, the ban will continue.

In his Truth Social post on Monday, Trump called out Ontario for the alcohol ban.

“What does the United States of America get — Absolutely NOTHING! Ontario won’t even put U.S. spirits, beverages, and other alcoholic products, on their shelves,” Trump said.

Bryann Aguilar, journalist, CP24.com

Fact check: Who owns the bridge?

Canada is paying the full upfront cost of the Gordie Howe International Bridge because of a binational deal reached after years of studies, legal battles and political resistance on the U.S. side of the border.

Under the 2012 Canada-Michigan Crossing Agreement, Canada agreed to finance, build and operate the new Windsor-Detroit crossing, including portions on the American side, to move the long-delayed project forward.

The agreement also states the bridge will be publicly owned by Canada and Michigan, and that iron and steel for key components must be sourced from either country.

In 2012, the federal government created the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, a Crown corporation responsible for delivering and operating the project.

A private consortium was awarded the contract in 2018, and construction began later that year.

The total cost is now estimated at about $6.4 billion after increases and delays.

Sanjay Maru, CTV News Windsor journalist

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Trump’s threat ‘only a matter of time’: former MP

A former Windsor-area member of Parliament says Ottawa bears some responsibility for threats from U.S. President Donald Trump toward the Gordie Howe International Bridge, arguing delays pushed the project into another Trump presidency.

Brian Masse, the former Windsor West MP for more than two decades, believes it was “only a matter of time” before Trump put the bridge in his crosshairs.

“Doesn’t surprise me that we’ve come to this. I’ve been warning about this for a while,” Masse said in an interview on Monday evening.

Masse, who has advocated for a second bridge crossing in Windsor since 1998, said Canada stopped short of the necessary steps to avoid vulnerabilities.

Specifically, he took aim at the decision to use a public-private partnership (P3), a factor he believes contributed to the project being delayed multiple times.

“Had we actually got it completed on time, we wouldn’t even be in this situation.”

Robert Lothian, CTV News Windsor journalist

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