Ambassador Bridge Owner’s $1 Million Trump Donation Preceded Attack on Rival Crossing
Detroit, Saturday, 21 February 2026.
Recent filings reveal Ambassador Bridge owner Matthew Moroun donated $1 million to a Trump-aligned PAC just weeks before the President moved to block the competing Gordie Howe International Bridge.
Financial Disclosures Reveal Timing of Donation
Campaign finance disclosures released on Thursday, February 19, confirm that Matthew Moroun, the owner of the Ambassador Bridge, contributed $1 million to the pro-Trump super PAC MAGA Inc. on January 16, 2026 [1][2]. This substantial financial injection occurred mere weeks before President Donald Trump publicly threatened to halt the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a rival infrastructure project jointly owned by Canada and Michigan [2][8]. The timing of the contribution has drawn intense scrutiny from lawmakers and industry analysts, particularly as the Moroun family has a vested interest in maintaining their bridge’s monopoly on the Detroit-Windsor crossing [1].
A Strategic Sequence of Events
The sequence of interactions suggests a coordinated effort to shift federal policy regarding the cross-border crossing. On February 9, 2026—less than a month after the donation was made—Moroun met privately with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick [1][6]. Following that meeting, President Trump took to social media to declare that he would block the new bridge unless the United States received “fairness and respect” and a share of the toll revenue [2]. This rhetoric marked a sharp pivot, as the Department of Homeland Security had published a rule just days prior, on January 30, establishing the Gordie Howe bridge as a legal port of entry effective March 2, 2026 [2][8].
Legislative Oversight and Lobbying Ties
In response to these developments, Democratic lawmakers have launched an investigation into potential “pay-to-play” dynamics. Representatives Robert Garcia and Rashida Tlaib sent a formal letter to Moroun on February 20, demanding documentation regarding his meeting with Secretary Lutnick and any communications concerning the bridge projects [8]. The lawmakers accuse Moroun of using his influence as a donor to jeopardize American commerce to protect his company’s bottom line [6]. Secretary Lutnick faces a February 25 deadline to provide requested information, while Moroun has been given until March 4 to comply [6].