Michigan state Senator and U.S. Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow has released a campaign-style video demanding President Donald Trump open the Gordie Howe International Bridge, alleging that a billionaire family that donated to Trump is blocking the new public span. The bridge, which connects Detroit to Windsor, Ontario, is complete but remains closed despite an earlier June 12 opening date.
McMorrow’s message to Trump
In a video posted on social media on June 24, 2026, McMorrow stands in Detroit with the Gordie Howe Bridge in the background. “The Gordie Howe Bridge is finished,” she says. “But Donald Trump won’t open it, because the billionaire family that owns the other bridge gave him a million bucks.” She adds: “One message for the president: Open this damn bridge. And you’d better believe I approve this message.”
McMorrow, who has served in the Michigan Senate since 2019 and as majority whip since 2023, is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2026, seeking to replace retiring incumbent Gary Peters.
Allegations of corruption
In a CNN interview the same day, McMorrow said: “This is a symbol, right in the heart of Michigan, of the corruption of the Trump administration. This is a bridge that has been built for years; more than two decades have gone into bringing this bridge to life.” She noted that the crossing “is responsible for 25 per cent of North American trade” and that the existing Ambassador Bridge, which opened in 1929, “is owned by one family.”
McMorrow pointed out that “Canada paid for the entire thing” and that “the bridge is finished.” She alleged: “The Moroun family that opens the other bridge made a million-dollar donation to Trump’s super PAC, they got a meeting with Howard Lutnick, and then all of a sudden they finally found a guy to do their bidding in president Trump, who is now railing against this bridge.”
Background on the bridge delays
The Gordie Howe International Bridge, a public project fully funded by Canada, was initially set to open in early 2026 after years of delays. On June 9, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the bridge would open on June 12, calling it “a symbol but also a fact of co-operations between our countries.” However, two days later, Carney told reporters: “At the request of the United States we agreed to delay the opening and take the necessary time to resolve outstanding issues.” He described the delay as “a few weeks” and “time well spent,” citing “a series of technical aspects” without elaborating.
The bridge’s official website now lists no opening date. A June 11 statement from Chuck Andary, the bridge’s interim CEO and Chief Legal Officer, reads: “Canada and the United States have agreed to delay the opening of the bridge, taking the necessary time to resolve any outstanding issues. We appreciate the efforts of workers on both sides of the border to get the bridge to its current state of readiness.”
Impact on trade
The Ambassador Bridge, owned by the Moroun family, carries approximately 25% of all U.S.-Canada trade, according to McMorrow. The new Gordie Howe Bridge is intended to relieve congestion and provide a publicly owned alternative. The delay has drawn criticism from lawmakers and business groups on both sides of the border.
