President Trump to visit Michigan on Monday

[00:00:00]Always stream. This is CBS News Detroit, getting answers.

[00:00:05]>> First at noon, it's official, President Donald Trump will be in Metro Detroit on Monday. He's holding a rally in Oakland County ahead of the August 4th primary elections. That's according to sources familiar with the plans. We'll share more details as soon as they're announced. Good afternoon and thanks so much for joining us here on CBS News Detroit. I'm Rochelle Graham. President Trump's visit will also be on the first day the Gordie Howe Bridge is expected to open for traffic. It comes, of course, amid tensions between the US and Canada. That's why we have team coverage for you ahead of this opening. Michigan Matters host Carol Cain will explain the politics behind all those delays, but first, let's go to CBS Detroit's Jordan Burrows, who spoke with a local business waiting to see an uptick in revenue from the bridge opening. Jordan.

[00:00:54]>> I'm in Rochelle, when you talk about the Gordie Howe Bridge, that bridge in general, it's been decades in the making, at least eight years of actual construction. Matt's is behind me has been here for 97 years. They said they've been waiting for an opening an opening day. Delay after delay, they just said they can't wait until Monday when they hopefully get that influx of customers.

[00:01:20]>> You know you're in the right place when you hear that sound.

[00:01:23]>> It's crazy, I'll be honest with you, you know, cuz we've been told different times when it's going to be open. We've been let down a little bit.

[00:01:29]>> The sizzle of the grill, it's a never-ending sound from the almost 100-year-old restaurant, Matt's Burgers.

[00:01:36]They see thousands of regulars a week, but are ready for new customers to try their menu.

[00:01:41]>> Matt's is it's legendary as it is on its own. We've been here 97 years, you know what I mean?

[00:01:46]Um, so yeah, we're hoping that it'll definitely bring up some more, you know, business. We got quite a bit of business, but we want more business. We want to kind of take over.

[00:01:56]>> The Gordie Howe Bridge construction has been eight years in the making. It was supposed to open in June and now it's slated to open July 27th with Canada celebrating a ribbon cutting July 24th.

[00:02:05]Motz's assistant manager said it couldn't open soon enough.

[00:02:09]>> That means excellent for us, you know what I mean? More business, more people.

[00:02:13]We're just here to please the people, you know what I mean? And that's what we do.

[00:02:16]>> Motz's is less than 1 mile away from the bridge on Fort Street. It's gone through decades of planning and political turmoil and years of construction.

[00:02:25]However, Motz's said it'll be good for people to have some consistency in their life with their burgers.

[00:02:31]>> If you haven't been here, please show up and come down. Come feel the love that we have to show to offer.

[00:02:37]>> The Gordie Howe Bridge will be six lanes, so that will certainly help ease some sort of traffic congestion that's already down there between the Canada and Detroit border. But once you get off the bridge and you're here on this Detroit side, Motz's Burgers is one of the first restaurants you'll see. Live in Detroit, Jordan Burrows, CBS News, Detroit.

[00:02:57]>> Jordan, thank you for that live report.

[00:02:58]We turn now to our Carol Cain. Carol, you know this bridge has been a big topic for Michigan. Seems the president had some mixed feelings on its opening.

[00:03:07]So, with that being said, do you think there's a chance he could swing by the bridge?

[00:03:12]>> You know, I just happened to have a conversation with John James, uh who is obviously the Republican endorsed by Trump who'll be with him on Monday.

[00:03:19]Asked that question, is it possible? He said he did not know, but told me if Trump does go down to the bridge and decides to ride over in the beast, he would be there with him. But most important on this bridge, as you just heard from Jordan's report, this is so important to businesses on both sides of the border here. And certainly this bridge uh is is important not just for today, but for tomorrow as well. But getting it over the bumps, getting it opened uh is is been a challenge. This whole undertaking has been over 20 years in the making and it is so frustrating for people on both sides because businesses on both sides have a lot to to stand or lose based on this. So, I know the impetus is let's open this on Monday and hopefully without all the drama and let's get going.

[00:04:04]>> Yeah, let's elaborate on the drama just a little bit. The bridge has been under construction for 8 years now. You have a lot of insight here. You're a political guru. What can you tell us about the politics behind all those countless delays?

[00:04:18]>> Well, here's what I know. That this is a $800 billion question because that's how much bilateral trade goes on between the two countries. It is the number one destination as far as most important trade taking place going back and forth between Michigan and also 25% of what goes on in our country. But, this all comes down to since President Trump came back in office, there've been a lot of tariff volleys going on certainly with Canada. And the latest one which came out on just a day or two ago right after they were together at the World Expo the the soccer match. And having that put out there 50% on some things including hockey sticks is >> [laughter] >> is interesting. It's proposed tariff and did not go over well with the Canadians hence they canceled the ribbon cutting which was to be a between the US and Canada to just Canada only now tomorrow morning over on the Windsor side only.

[00:05:15]>> Yeah, the timing is very interesting. As you mentioned a 50% tariff on Canada, very upset about that and the hockey sticks comment made me laugh. Do you think there's more clashing to come? Do you think that by chance this could be a band-aid on that dispute?

[00:05:29]>> Here's what I know. This this this this bridge opening is so important to both countries. Ultimately, both leaders of the two countries are businessmen by trade. Um Mark Carney who's the Prime Minister, this is his first political realm if you will as far as now that he's Prime Minister. He's a businessman.

[00:05:46]He's pragmatic. But, the Canadians have been They've been dealing with Trump in an interesting way over this last year and a half. Keep in mind, it was Donald Trump who said he wanted to make Canada the 51st state. This does not go over well in Canada. And then the the tariffs, which keep getting piled on here, is not helping either. And most important, it's it's impacting Michigan.

[00:06:04]If you were to talk to Gretchen Whitmer, many other people, and some of the business people your your Jordan and others are talking to, these tariffs and this back-and-forth volley is not helping either play. So, I know everyone's hoping that somehow this can come to a conclusion and get it open and subside.

[00:06:23]>> All right, much more to come and certainly follow Carol Cain. Thank you for the live report.