“Trump is actively making our goods more expensive… America does not have to tolerate this kind of corruption,” Buttigieg says
WASHINGTON — Pete Buttigieg accused President Donald Trump of driving up costs for American consumers by threatening to block the opening of a major border-crossing project, calling the move political retaliation that benefits a billionaire donor.
Trump is actively making our goods more expensive by blocking a piece of key infrastructure – apparently all because his most Epstein-linked Cabinet Secretary conveyed a request from a billionaire GOP donor. America does not have to tolerate this kind of corruption. pic.twitter.com/wcck6h1HpN
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) February 11, 2026
“Trump is actively making our goods more expensive by blocking a piece of key infrastructure,” Buttigieg wrote in a late-night post, adding that the decision appeared tied to a request delivered by “his most Epstein-linked Cabinet Secretary” on behalf of “a billionaire GOP donor.”
Buttigieg, the former transportation secretary, did not name the project in his post. But his comments came as Trump has publicly threatened to stop the Gordie Howe International Bridge — a nearly completed crossing between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario — from opening as scheduled.
The bridge, which has been under construction since 2018 and is slated to open in early 2026, was financed by Canada and is designed to ease congestion at one of North America’s busiest trade corridors, particularly for the auto industry. Canadian and Michigan officials have said the project is jointly owned and that toll revenue is expected to repay costs over time.
Trump’s threat has landed amid broader U.S.-Canada tension and ahead of trade talks, with the White House arguing the president could amend the presidential permit used for cross-border infrastructure projects. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office has pushed back, arguing the bridge will open and warning that delaying it would hit jobs and supply chains.
The dispute has also revived attention on the privately owned Ambassador Bridge — the existing Detroit-Windsor crossing — and its billionaire owner, Matt Moroun, whose family has long opposed the publicly backed Gordie Howe project. Reuters reported that Moroun met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick shortly before Trump’s stance drew fresh scrutiny, fueling questions about influence and who benefits if the new bridge is delayed.
Buttigieg’s post referenced an “Epstein-linked” Cabinet secretary, language that aligns with recent reporting about Lutnick facing calls to resign over newly revealed details involving Jeffrey Epstein. The White House has publicly defended Lutnick amid the controversy.
Supporters of the bridge say the stakes are practical, not symbolic: the new crossing is meant to add capacity, reduce bottlenecks, and make cross-border shipping more reliable — all factors that can affect costs for manufacturers and, eventually, consumers. Critics of Trump’s position argue that using an infrastructure opening as leverage in unrelated disputes risks disrupting a trade artery that carries billions in goods each year.
Buttigieg closed by framing the episode as a corruption test, urging Americans not to accept a system where donor interests can steer decisions affecting everyday prices.
