Windsor to Detroit: A bridge too far?

Windsor to Detroit: A bridge too far?

For whatever reason Donald Trump hates Canada. First he imposes tariffs intended to cripple the country saying that the only way that they can avoid the tariffs is to become the 51^st state. Second, when Carney started negotiating a trade deal with China, Trump threatened a 100 percent tariff on Canadian goods. Third, Trump said he would decertify Canadian made Bombardier aircraft unless Canada accelerated the approval of Savannah, Ga made Gulfstream aircraft. Now Trump has seemingly come unglued over the new Gordie Howe international bridge set to be opened from Ontario to Detroit alleviating congestion on the busiest traveled corridor between the two countries.

Trump says the US should be given a 50 percent ownership in the bridge and complained that the Canadians built it using only Canadian products. How dare them! In its entirety here is his rant on Truth Social:

“As everyone knows, the Country of Canada has treated the United States very unfairly for decades. Now, things are turning around for the U.S.A., and FAST! But imagine, Canada is building a massive bridge between Ontario and Michigan. They own both the Canada and the United States side and, of course, built it with virtually no U.S. content. President Barack Hussein Obama stupidly gave them a waiver so they could get around the BUY AMERICAN Act, and not use any American products, including our Steel. Now, the Canadian Government expects me, as President of the United States, to PERMIT them to just “take advantage of America!” 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, they are absolutely prohibited from doing so and now, on top of everything else, Prime Minister Carney wants to make a deal with China — which will eat Canada alive. We’ll just get the leftovers! I don’t think so. The first thing China will do is terminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada, and permanently eliminate The Stanley Cup. The Tariffs Canada charges us for our Dairy products have, for many years, been unacceptable, putting our Farmers at great financial risk. I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them, and also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve. We will start negotiations, IMMEDIATELY. With all that we have given them, we should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset. The revenues generated because of the U.S. Market will be astronomical. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP

Good grief. China will terminate all ice hockey being played in Canada, and permanently eliminate The Stanley Cup? Please understand that this is a Canadian bridge, built and paid for by Canadians using Canadian materials that Trump is insisting that we should own half of it. Trump apparently did not know that Michigan actually has an ownership stake in the bridge and that Canada is to recoup the cost of building the bridge with tolls it collects on the Canadian side. Also some U.S. steel and U.S. labor were used in the bridge’s construction.

I am almost getting inured enough to not consider this embarrassing. Of course White House press secretary Karoline (Lying) Leavitt said that Trump’s demand “is just another example of President Trump putting America’s interests first,” which he made “very clear in his call with Carney.” Again good grief.

The democrats have finally been able to get a bill to the House floor to rescind the Trump tariffs on Canada. The bill was sponsored by New York’s Gregory Meeks. The bill passed 219-211 and will pass the Senate given that twice last year the Senate voted to rescind the tariffs. Of course, the president will veto it and there are not enough votes in either the House or the Senate to override.

It is obvious to me that Trump is infuriated that the bridge is named after the legendary Canadian hockey star, Gordie Howe. I bet if Carney changed the name to the Donald J. Trump Memorial Bridge that the president would withdraw his all of his demands.