Trump bizarrely claims China will ‘terminate all ice hockey in Canada’ in risk to dam new border bridge | EUROtoday

President Donald Trump has bizarrely claimed that China is plotting to “terminate ALL ice hockey” in Canada as he threatened to dam a brand new suspension bridge between the U.S. and its northern neighbor.

Officials on each side of the border — together with in Trump’s first administration — have been working for many years to construct and open the 1.6 mile Gordie Howe International Bridge, spanning the Detroit River between Michigan and Ontario.

But in a splenetic rant on Truth Social, the president accused Canada of “taking advantage of America” and demanded it give the U.S. part-ownership of the bridge or else face reprisals.

“What does the United States of America get — Absolutely NOTHING!” Trump posted.

“I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them, and also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve.

“We will begin negotiations, IMMEDIATELY. With all that we’ve given them, we should always personal, maybe, at the very least one half of this asset.”

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He also fulminated against reports that Canada seeking is new trade deals with China, which he claimed would “eat Canada alive”.

“The very first thing China will do is terminate ALL Ice Hockey being performed in Canada, and completely get rid of The Stanley Cup,” Trump claimed, without explaining how exactly this would be done.

Trump’s remarks drew immediate rebukes from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and other Great Lakes State Democrats.

”Canada financed the construction of the bridge — which was built by union construction workers from both sides of the border — and it will be operated under a joint ownership agreement between Michigan and Canada,” said a spokesperson for Whitmer.

“It’s going to open one way or another.”

Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin referred to as the bridge an “extremely vital infrastructure undertaking” and mentioned any cancellation would wreak “serious” harm on the state’s economic system.

“With this threat, the President is punishing Michiganders for a trade war he started,” she posted on X.

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Michigan’s different Senator Gary Peters referred to as Trump’s claims “completely backwards”, saying the state’s economic system is already “highly integrated” with Canada and that Michiganders have needed a brand new bridge for years.

House member Debbie Dingell, who represents Ann Arbor and a bundle of different cities west of Detroit, identified that the bridge had been “negotiated by a Republican governor” and that Trump himself had endorsed it in 2017.

“We cannot forget Canada is our friend and ally. We have to stop these cheap shots… I look forward to the ribbon-cutting,” she mentioned.

Named after famed Detroit hockey participant and Canadian nationwide Gordon Howe, the brand new bridge has been beneath development since 2018 and was completely funded by the Canadian authorities, which can recoup its cash by accumulating bridge tolls.

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Bridging two historic allies and commerce companions, it appeared like a achieved deal till Trump’s tariffs and threats of annexation despatched relations spiraling down the diplomatic plughole.

In a speech at Davos final month, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney gained a standing ovation for warning that the previous U.S.-led world order was useless and “is not coming back.”

Trump’s submit additionally took intention at Ontario’s boycott of U.S. liquor, which was faraway from all licensed liquor shops final February by order of the provincial authorities and has but to return.