President-elect Donald Trump has come out against the sale of U.S. Steel to Japanese company Nippon Steel.
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The Republican politician expressed his opposition in a post on Truth Social that was made Monday night. Trump stated his commitment to reinforcing American steel industry.
“Through a series of Tax Incentives and Tariffs, we will make U.S. Steel Strong and Great Again, and it will happen FAST! As President, I will block this deal from happening. Buyer Beware!!!” Trump shared.
The $14 billion sale, which was first announced last December, has been met with skepticism and opposition from several quarters, including prominent politicians. Democratic U.S. senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman have opposed the end of American ownership of the Pittsburgh-based company, which has been a staple in the Keystone State for over a century.
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Earlier this year, both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris advocated for keeping U.S. Steel American-owned.
There has been union opposition to the deal from the United Steelworkers.
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Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said at an event in Pittsburgh on Tuesday that he has been talking to U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel in an effort to protect jobs in the state. He wouldn’t state whether he supported or opposed the deal, again stating he was about keeping jobs in Pennsylvania for the long term.
The governor said the president-elect “may want to check with some of the local leaders of his own party right here in western Pennsylvania who are out calling for support of the deal every single day.”
“I’m going to ignore the noise and the social media posts and focus on protecting jobs in the community,” Shapiro said.
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Pennsylvania Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, a Republican from Westmoreland County near Pittsburgh, had previously support for the sale in the past, but said in a statement Tuesday that Trump wants to “make U.S. Steel great again.”
“Keeping U.S. Steel headquarters and operations in southwestern Pennsylvania is about keeping our jobs and our heritage in place for present and future generations,” Ward said.
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Nippon Steel has submitted filings to Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to review the deal on national security grounds. The president can use those findings to block or approve a sale of a key U.S. company.
U.S. Steel is headquartered in Pittsburgh and has several facilities, including a finishing plant in Falls Township.
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Nippon Steel has made a concerted push to sway public opinion in favor of the deal, running billboards in Lower Bucks County and sending mailers in support of their bid to residents across Bucks County earlier this year.
Nippon Steel said in a statement to NBC News on Tuesday that it was “determined to protect and grow U.S. Steel in a manner that reinforces American industry, domestic supply chain resiliency, and U.S. national security.”
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Nippon Steel has committed nearly $3 billion in investments and assured the retention of unionized jobs, according to statements.
U.S. Steel’s historical footprint in Bucks County has been significantly reduced from the days when its Fairless Works complex employed more than 5,000 workers.
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