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★ Government Action

Moroun lobbies Lutnick before Trump threatens Gordie Howe Bridge

Canada-US Trade RelationsCorporate FavorsLutnick Commerce DepartmentMAGA Inc. Pay-to-Play

Filed February 2026

★ The Brief

What happened

Matthew Moroun met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on February 9 to discuss the Gordie Howe Bridge, a new Detroit-Windsor crossing Canada funded at $4.7 billion.

Who enabled it

Who benefits

Deal or steal?

Moroun's family owns the Ambassador Bridge that would lose toll revenue to the new crossing. Moroun donated $1 million to MAGA Inc. on January 16; hours after the February 9 meeting, Trump publicly demanded the U.S. be 'fully compensated' first.

On February 9, 2026, Matthew Moroun met in Washington with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to lobby against the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a new crossing between Detroit and Windsor scheduled to open in early 2026 that would compete with the Moroun family's Ambassador Bridge for toll revenues. Lutnick called President Trump after the meeting. Hours later, Trump posted on social media that he would 'not allow' the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge until the United States was 'fully compensated' and Canada treated the U.S. with 'fairness and respect.' The Gordie Howe Bridge was funded entirely by Canada at a cost of approximately $4.7 billion and is jointly owned by Canada and Michigan.

Actors

Who pushed it · 3

Who initiated, paid, or pushed the action.

  • Donald Trump
    Donald Trump

    Threatened via social media on February 9, hours after Lutnick's call, to block the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge, citing lack of U.S. compensation and Canada's treatment of the United States.

  • Howard Lutnick
    Howard Lutnick

    Received Moroun's lobbying meeting as Commerce Secretary, then called President Trump after the meeting — a key step in the chain of events that preceded Trump's public threat to block the bridge.

    Howard Lutnick has paid into Trump’s orbit:

  • Matthew Moroun

    Met with Commerce Secretary Lutnick on February 9 to lobby against the Gordie Howe Bridge, whose competition would reduce toll revenues flowing exclusively to his family's Ambassador Bridge.

    Matthew Moroun has paid into Trump’s orbit:

Beneficiaries

Who gained · 1

Who stood to gain.

  • Detroit International Bridge Company

    Stands to benefit from any blockage or delay of the Gordie Howe Bridge, which would otherwise compete for toll revenues currently flowing exclusively to the Ambassador Bridge it owns.

Sources

Further reading