Thanedar, House Democrats call on Trump to open Gordie Howe bridge

Detroit Democratic U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar joined fellow Democratic Reps. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi and Lou Correa of California, both leaders on the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee, in calling on the Trump administration to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge. 

The bridge, which will connect Detroit to Ontario, Canada, was initially slated to open in June but was delayed by Trump after he said he wanted a “better deal.” 

Democrats at both the state and federal levels have been pushing for the bridge’s opening, while critics have pointed to the Moroun family’s ties to the Trump administration as a factor in the delay. The family owns the Ambassador Bridge, the only other bridge to Canada from Detroit, and Thanedar says the political maneuvering has come at the expense of the U.S. economy. 

“The bridge is essential for commerce between the United States and Canada,” Thanedar said at a press conference in Detroit’s Riverside Park Tuesday afternoon. “The bridge would be instrumental for our auto industry. The bridge would be instrumental to retain and increase our auto jobs, and the bridge is essential for Michigan’s economy.”

Thanedar pointed to legal victories against other Trump administration policies as a potential sign that the president’s reluctance to open the bridge could be met with the same fate. Asked when he thought that might happen, Thanedar would only say that the bridge was ready and could be opened tomorrow. 

“We will use every possible means, we will not hide behind the fact that we are currently in the minority,” Thanedar said.

Thompson was critical of Trump’s dismissal of the needs of Democratic members of Congress and constituents in Democratic areas — including in times of need for emergency assistance.

“He’s the first president to totally ignore members of Congress, especially from the opposing party,” he said.

Meanwhile, Correa suggested giving Trump public credit for opening the bridge.

“I would say let President Trump be in the first car that comes across that bridge,” Correa said. “Let him cut the ribbon, let him come across, that’s the deal, and all the taxpayers would benefit from that, and he can take credit for that as well as he should.”

Echoing President Reagan’s famous Cold War challenge of “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall,” Thanedar said to reporters, “Mr. Trump, open up the Gordie Howe Bridge. Mr. Trump, open up the bridge, because Michigan needs it, the people of the United States need it, Michigan needs it for the commerce, for the jobs, for our economy.”