How could Trump block the bridge? It’s unclear, but considering how effective he’s been in the past, there’s a strong possibility he’ll forget he even made this post by the end of the week. Still, the New York Times has an idea (they really need to stop giving him ideas):
One possible avenue would be for Mr. Trump to declare an emergency. Under the law, Customs and Border Protection can temporarily close a port of entry “when necessary to respond to a specific threat to human life or national interests.” Mr. Trump has often invoked emergency statutes for events and circumstances that are largely considered routine to make use of the expanded authority that doing so grants him.
So far the ladies who run Michigan are not taking Trump too seriously. Stacey LaRouche, press secretary to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, told Automotive News the bridge is happening one way or another.
“It’s good for Michigan workers and it’s good for Michigan’s auto industry,” said LaRouche, noting that the construction of the bridge was financed by Canada and that it was built by union construction workers from both sides of the border. “This project has been a tremendous example of bipartisan and international co-operation.
“It’s going to open one way or another, and the governor looks forward to attending the ribbon cutting.”
Michigan’s U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin was also unimpressed with the President’s late night bloviation, per Automotive News:
“Higher costs for Michigan businesses, less secure supply chains and ultimately, fewer jobs,” the Michigan senator said on social media.
“With this threat, the president is punishing Michiganders for a trade war he started.”
And you know who really isn’t chill with this whole deal? The country of Canada. Candace Laing, President & CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce which technically owns the bridge, told the Detroit Free Press that blocking the Gordie Howe would be the trade equivalent of punching yourself in the face.
“Whether this proves real or simply threatened to keep uncertainty high — blocking or barricading bridges is a self-defeating move,” Laing said in an emailed statement.
The mayor of Windsor, Drew Dilkens, told the Times “This is crazy stuff.” Dilkens also mentioned that Canada considered the Trump Administration’s involvement with the bridge when deciding to delay the grand opening last year. It looks like they should have maybe cut that big red ribbon early after all.
This isn’t the first time our border with our Northern neighbors has been a lynchpin in international right-wing politics. If you remember, Canada’s “Freedom Convoy” closed the bridge in 2022 while protesting COVID measures, causing an international incident that made automakers call on world leaders to get their car parts flowing again.
