Leavitt addressed the issue of the unfinished bridge named after the Canadian hockey player during Tuesday's briefing at the White House. Trump on Monday threatened to prevent its opening without introducing a number of changes and – as Leavitt noted – he did not change his mind after Tuesday's conversation with the Canadian prime minister.
— I think the president has been clear and direct, but I would like to emphasize the fact that Canada will control what crosses the Gordie Howe Bridge and will own the land on both sides. This is unacceptable for the president, the spokeswoman said. “He also believes that the United States should own at least half of the bridge, co-decide what passes over it and share in the economic benefits generated by its use,” she said.
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“This is another example of President Trump putting America's interests first, and the president has made that clear to Prime Minister Carney,” she added. Carney himself said Tuesday that the phone call with Trump was good and that he explained the facts of the case to him.
– I explained that Canada paid 4 billion dollars (Canadian – PAP) for the construction of the bridge and that the co-owners are the state of Michigan and the government of Canada – Carney said before the government meeting, quoted by the media. He also added that he told Trump that both Canadian and American steel were used to build the bridge, and workers from both countries took part in the project. — This is a great example of cooperation between our countries. I'm looking forward to its (the bridge – PAP) opening, Carney emphasized.
Donald Trump: I will not allow this bridge to be opened
Trump announced on Monday that he intends to block the opening of a new bridge between Windsor, Canada, and Detroit, USA. “I will not allow this bridge to open until the US receives full compensation for everything we have given and, importantly, until Canada treats the US with the honesty and respect we deserve,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social social network. The president argued that the US should own half of the bridge.
Gordie Howe International BridgeChris Woodrich / Wikipedia Commons
Back in 2017, Trump supported the construction of the Gordie Howe Bridge, which began in 2018. After talks in Washington with the then Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, held in February 2017, the bridge was described in a joint communiqué as a particularly important “economic connection between the two countries” and expressed hope for the quick completion of the crossing.
The Canadian government signed an agreement with the state of Michigan to build the bridge in 2012, and this agreement ensures that Canada and Michigan will own the facility. The Canadian side paid for all the initial construction costs of the bridge, and the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, a state-owned company owned by the Government of Canada, is to be responsible for its operation. However, the bridge supervising the so-called The International Authority consists of an equal number of representatives from Canada and the state of Michigan, public broadcaster CBC recalled.
