U.S. Steel headquarters to remain in Pittsburgh as part of "planned partnership," Trump says
President Trump said on Friday that U.S. Steel's headquarters will remain in Pittsburgh as part of a "planned partnership" with Japan-based Nippon Steel.
On his Truth Social social media platform, the president said U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel will enter into a "planned partnership," the latest development in the controversial deal that has drawn criticisms from both political parties.
Before leaving office in January, former President Joe Biden rejected the $15 billion proposal by Nippon Steel to buy U.S. Steel after the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States failed to reach consensus on the possible national security risks of the deal.
In March, Mr. Trump ordered a new review of the sale by the government panel and said he doesn't want U.S. Steel to be owned by the Japanese company.
During the presidential campaign, both Mr. Trump and Biden vowed to block the deal. But Friday's post from Mr. Trump says the "planned partnership" between the two will "create at least 70,000 jobs, and add $14 Billion Dollars to the U.S. Economy."
The specific details of the "planned partnership" were not immediately available on Friday. It was unclear who would own the Pittsburgh-based company under the "planned partnership."
In U.S. Steel's announcement, they said the company would "remain American." When reached for comment to ask if the deal would be a merger between the two companies, a Nippon spokesperson directed KDKA to an earlier statement that did not provide an answer.
Trump to host rally in Pittsburgh
In Friday's Truth Social post, the president said he is coming to Pittsburgh on May 30 for a "big" rally. No other details about the rally were immediately available.
The last time Mr. Trump was in Pittsburgh was on Election Eve, when he held a rally at PPG Paints Arena.
Reaction to U.S. Steel-Nippon Steel partnership
The merger has been met with opposition from the United Steelworkers union from the start, despite growing support from the rank-and-file steelworkers. Community leaders have said the future of steelmaking in the Mon Valley is at stake, knowing U.S Steel has warned that if the deal doesn't go through, it could begin transferring operations down south and move its headquarters out of Downtown Pittsburgh.
In a statement on Friday, United Steelworkers International President David McCall said the union "cannot speculate about the impact of today's announcement without more information."
U.S. Steel said in a statement, in part, that it will "grow bigger and stronger through a partnership with Nippon Steel." Nippon Steel said in a statement that it "applauds President Trump for his bold action to approve our partnership with U. S. Steel," calling the partnership a "game changer."
Neither company provided any additional details about the deal on Friday.
Glenn Thomas, a powerhouse coordinator at U.S. Steel's Edgar Thomson Works facility in Braddock, told KDKA that many of the steelworkers are "extremely happy right now" after more than 17 months of uncertainty.
"I can take a breath today," steelworker Andrew D. Macey Sr. said. "It seemed like through this whole sale that was pending, it just gave you stress. You had to go to work and do your job every day safely, and every steelworker did that with this hanging above them, not knowing if tomorrow was going to come that they had a job or they had a future."
North Braddock Mayor Cletus Lee said it's "early Christmas here in the Mon Valley" with the news, while West Mifflin Mayor Chris Kelly said the announcement brought him to tears because he believes this deal will save steelmaking.
"I feel that today we saved steel in Pittsburgh," Kelly said. "Not just the Mon Valley, but we saved the legacy that all of our forefathers, they're all looking down on us saying 'thank you.'"
For Macey, just like Kelly, this has been about keeping steelmaking jobs alive and the pride that comes with working for U.S. Steel. Macey, a third-generation steelworker, is set to retire in a couple of months.
"I wish my father was here to say I'm retiring as he did back in 1975," Macey said. "And I could say 'dad, I'm retiring too,' a proud steelworker."
Pennsylvania senators praise partnership
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman told KDKA-TV on Friday that he believes the deal will preserve jobs in the Mon Valley, standing in contrast to what he said about the original deal, which included a smaller investment, calling the original deal a "death sentence" for the Mon Valley Works.
When pressed by KDKA-TV on Friday, he said he hasn't changed his mind, just that the deal has changed, taking credit for jamming up the original deal.
"This was only ever about national security and protecting their way of life here. And now this is a radically different deal," said Fetterman, who lives across the street from the Edgar Thompson plant. "Why has Nippon coughed up an extra $14 billion that they originally offered back in December of 2023?"
Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick applauded the partnership in a statement, saying it's "great for the economy, great for national security, and great for the hardworking people of Pennsylvania."
"This $14 billion investment by Nippon Steel ensures this storied American company remains under U.S. leadership," McCormick said.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said with the "planned partnership," there is an opportunity to "deliver historic investments" and "ensure the future of American steelmaking continues to run through the Mon Valley."
