'Clown car presidency': Trump mocked after threatening Canada in social media meltdown

President Donald Trump recently issued a new threat to Canada, declaring that he would refuse to allow a new bridge between Canada and the U.S. to open unless Canada's government made significant concessions.

In a Monday post to his Truth Social account, Trump complained that the United States' northern neighbor has treated the U.S. "very unfairly for decades," and complained that Canada was no longer buying American-made goods. He then pledged to prevent the new Gordie Howe bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario to Detroit, Michigan from opening unless Canada agreed to give the U.S. partial ownership. He even baselessly claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping would "terminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada, and permanently eliminate The Stanley Cup" if Prime Minister Mark Carney finalized a trade deal with China.

"The Tariffs Canada charges us for our Dairy products have, for many years, been unacceptable, putting our Farmers at great financial risk. 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," Trump posted. "We will start negotiations, IMMEDIATELY. With all that we have given them, we should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset. The revenues generated because of the U.S. Market will be astronomical. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

According to the Detroit Free Press, the Gordie Howe Bridge (named for the legendary Canadian-born player for the Detroit Red Wings) is already jointly owned by both Canada and the United States. Canada shouldered the entire $5.7 billion construction cost, and will recoup its costs through toll fees. Trump's tirade was roundly mocked on social media, with elected officials, journalists and others all picking apart the president's post. Catherine McKenna, who is Canada's former minister of environment and climate change, tweeted: "We paid for it in full. It's all a grift."

"Canada owns the Gordie Howe Bridge because Canadians paid for its construction," former broadcaster Michael Leach tweeted. "... The clown car presidency continues. At what point does congress throw these crooks out."

"Trump negates our trade pacts with Canada and is now upset that it is making deals with other countries," economist Dean Baker wrote. "It's sort of like the guy who breaks up with his girlfriend and then gets upset that she starts going out with a much cooler dude."

"he Gordie Howe Bridge is an incredibly important infrastructure project for Michigan. President Trump's threat tonight to tank it is awful for our state's economy. Canceling this project will have serious repercussions. Higher costs for Michigan businesses, less secure supply chains, and ultimately, fewer jobs," Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) wrote on X. "With this threat, the President is punishing Michiganders for a trade war he started. The only reason Canada is on the verge of a trade deal with China is because President Trump has kicked them in the teeth for a year."

"The Gordie Howe Bridge was built by union workers on both sides of the border. This border is the busiest crossing between our two countries, and has been critical for not only Michigan jobs but also American jobs. Not to mention Canada paid for this bridge," Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) tweeted. "This bridge was negotiated by a Republican Governor, and in 2017 Trump endorsed the bridge calling it a 'vital economic link between our two countries.' Nothing has changed. We cannot forget Canada is our friend and ally. We have to stop these cheap shots. It helps no one, and it especially hurts our economy."

"At this point, this kind of rambling nonsense is expected," former journalist Chris Hofley wrote. "But come on. A constant, global embarrassment. Hard to imagine stepping foot in that country anytime soon. Or ever again."