President Donald Trump traveled to western Pennsylvania on Friday to promote a pending agreement between US Steel and Japan’s Nippon Steel, calling it a “blockbuster deal” that would keep the historic American company under U.S. control — even as final terms remain unclear.
Speaking to a crowd of steelworkers in hard hats and safety vests outside a US Steel plant near Pittsburgh, Trump hailed the investment as a turning point for American manufacturing. “We want our future built with the pride of Pittsburgh, not cheap steel from Shanghai,” he said.
During the visit, Trump announced that tariffs on imported steel would double from 25% to 50%, a move aimed at protecting domestic production. “You understand tariffs better than Wall Street ever will,” he told the workers.
Despite the fanfare, Trump later admitted the deal has yet to be finalized. “I have to approve the final deal, and we haven’t seen it yet,” he told reporters after returning to Washington. Still, he described it as the largest investment in Pennsylvania’s history and framed it as a strategic partnership rather than a full acquisition.
US Steel executives echoed the president’s optimism. CEO David Burritt and Nippon vice chairman Takahiro Mori joined the event, with Mori calling the deal a “game changer” that would ensure US Steel remains “made in America by Americans.”
Yet the deal has drawn sharp criticism from the United Steelworkers union, which continues to oppose it. “Binding commitments are what matter — not speeches,” the union said in a statement, citing Nippon’s past violations of trade rules.
While national union leadership remains opposed, local officials near Pittsburgh have expressed support, arguing the investment will safeguard jobs and modernize aging plants. Reports suggest federal oversight through “golden shares” could allow the U.S. to retain control over board appointments.
Trump, who once opposed the deal, said he changed his mind after Nippon agreed to increase its investment. “It just kept getting better for the workers,” he said. “I’ll be watching over it. It’s going to be great.”
The president also linked steel production to national security, warning against reliance on foreign materials. “If you don’t have steel, you don’t have a country,” he declared.
Although US Steel, once a global industrial powerhouse, now employs just 14,000 workers in the U.S., it remains a potent symbol of American strength — and a political flashpoint in a key battleground state.
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