Follow the money

Gordie Howe Bridge

The Trump administration repeatedly delayed the publicly built Gordie Howe Bridge. A wealthy donor owns the only other bridge in town. Abdul discusses this as a case study in his broader message: when big money buys influence, government stops working for the rest of us.

Just one more way that government corruption, power in the wrong hands, can yield circumstances where we have trade war, where there could have been peace.

WHAT HE HAS SAID

• Argues the delay likely served wealthy interests behind the competing, privately owned Ambassador Bridge, who did not want to lose their grip on cross-border traffic to a new public crossing.
• Points to the episode as his central argument in miniature: when corporations and billionaires can buy influence, everyone loses the benefit they could have shared.
• Notes he is the only Michigan U.S. Senate candidate who has never taken a dime of corporate money, and never will.
• Supports getting money out of politics by overturning Citizens United, banning dark money through corporate 501(c)(4)s, Super PACs, and 527 groups, and publicly funding elections.

Primary sources

• Watch the original video — Abdul El-Sayed on Bluesky
• Read the money out of politics position — Abdul for U.S. Senate

Last reviewed 2026-08-19.