U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra has denied that a US$1 million donation from the billionaire Moroun family to a Donald Trump super PAC is responsible for the delay in opening the Gordie Howe International Bridge. In an interview with Global News, Hoekstra stated, “Absolutely not,” when asked if the donation influenced the bridge’s opening. He added, “The bridge was not open when it was announced a couple of weeks ago by mutual agreement of the Canadian government and the U.S. government.”
Donation timing raises questions
Campaign finance reports show that Matthew Moroun, head of the family that has owned the Ambassador Bridge since the 1970s, made the US$1 million donation to MAGA Inc. on January 16, 2026. In February, Trump pledged to block the Gordie Howe Bridge from opening “until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given” Canada. The sequence of events fueled speculation that the donation was linked to the delay.
Hoekstra dismissed any connection: “It has nothing to do with the Morouns.” He noted that the Morouns operate a significant business in the United States and that companies involved in such businesses donate to all kinds of campaigns, both Republican and Democrat.
Moroun family’s long-standing opposition
The Moroun family has opposed the Gordie Howe Bridge project for years, viewing it as a threat to their profitable Ambassador Bridge. According to the Department of Homeland Security, three million commercial vehicles crossed the Ambassador Bridge in 2025, connecting Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan. That figure is expected to drop to about 1.6 million vehicles after the Gordie Howe Bridge opens, significantly reducing the Morouns’ revenue.
The Ambassador Bridge charges commercial trucks US$15 to $20 per axle to cross each way, according to The Windsor Star. A typical tractor-trailer can have five axles, making each crossing costly.
Hoekstra’s controversial remarks
Hoekstra has also faced criticism for claiming that Canada paying to construct the Gordie Howe Bridge is a “big myth.” Andrew MacDougall, former director of communications for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, called Hoekstra’s comments “a punch in the face” and labeled him “Ambassador for Gaslight to Canada” on social media. MacDougall told the National Post that Moroun’s “monopoly” on the busy trade corridor was one reason the Canada-Michigan Crossing Agreement was so difficult to negotiate.
Bridge project status
The Gordie Howe International Bridge, a joint project between Canada and the United States, is designed to ease congestion and improve trade flow between the two countries. The delay in its opening has sparked political tensions, with critics accusing the Trump administration of bowing to special interests. Hoekstra maintains that the delay was a mutual decision between both governments, unrelated to political donations.
