Matthew Moroun

In February 2026, The New York Times reported that Moroun met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to lobby the Trump Administration to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge set to open in early 2026.^[4]

U.S. president Donald Trump subsequently threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, citing Canada's recent trade developments with China and the alleged one-sided nature of the contract (wherein Canada gains all revenue from bridge tolls to pay back construction costs). Trump's announcement was criticized by politicians, business leaders and industry groups.^[5][6][7][8] The following day, Prime Minister Mark Carney discussed the bridge with Trump, detailing the joint ownership of the bridge, that construction used U.S. steel and workers, and that Canada paid for construction.^[9]

Moroun has been a prolific donor to Republican causes and Trump’s campaigns including a $1 million donation to MAGA Inc., a super PAC dedicated to President Trump, less than one month before President Trump threatened to block the Gordie Howe Bridge opening.^[2][10] The Moroun family has opposed the construction of the Gordie Howe Bridge since its conception as it would compete for the $300 million toll revenue Moroun family's Ambassador Bridge collects which is located a few miles away.^[11][10]

He has a son, Matthew J. Moroun, who earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame, and is a director of Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc and P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc.^[12]