LANSING — Today, new reporting shows the Gordie Howe Bridge is “days away from completion” and Customs staff are “ready to go” in staffing the bridge, but Donald Trump continues to block the bridge from opening. In response, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel released the following statement:
“It’s been 114 days since Trump vowed to block the Gordie Howe Bridge from opening once completed, which came a day after he met with the billionaire owner of a competing bridge who’s donated millions of dollars to his campaign. Now, the Gordie Howe Bridge is nearly finished and the Customs staff are ‘ready to go,’ and it’s well past time for Donald Trump and Republicans to quit playing political games and open this bridge, which is a game-changer for our economy.
“Michigan Republicans, including John James, Mike Rogers, and Matt Hall, have put their billionaire donors first as they’ve stood by Trump holding the bridge hostage and attacking our largest trading partner, who paid for its construction.
“Michigan’s economy is already struggling under the weight of the GOP’s price-hiking agenda and reckless tariffs. Every day that Trump keeps the bridge closed is a day that our economy suffers even more.
“It’s time for Donald Trump to open the Gordie Howe Bridge—and for Michigan Republicans at every level to quit the political games, do the right thing, and urge Trump to open the bridge.”
BACKGROUND:
- Two-time statewide loser John James said today that Trump should continue to hold the bridge hostage as part of a “deal” — which comes after he defended Trump’s threats to block the bridge earlier this year. James has received at least $58,000 from the Moroun family over the years—including a max out donation to his campaign for governor last year from Matthew Moroun.
- Failed GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers has called Trump’s threats to block the Gordie Howe Bridge from opening “the right thing to do.” Rogers has also received tens of thousands of dollars in political contributions from the billionaire Moroun family throughout his political career, and was counted as one of their “reliable allies” in Congress as they sought to prevent the potential construction of the Gordie Howe Bridge. Michigan Democrats have run digital ads slamming Rogers for “siding with [his] wealthy donors who sought to block the publicly owned bridge.”
- MAGA Speaker Matt Hall has received $36,000 from the Moroun family over the last decade, and Hall previously told The Detroit News that he “supported Trump’s Gordie Howe bridge mudslinging.”
