Trump Meets U.S. Steel CEO

By Nandita Bose and Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump met with U.S. Steel Chief Executive David Buritt at the White House on Thursday. The struggling steelmaker has been advocating for a decision regarding its long-sought takeover by Japan’s Nippon Steel.

A $14.9 billion bid for U.S. Steel by Nippon Steel was previously blocked last month by former President Joe Biden.

While Trump has expressed opposition to the deal, he has shown openness to Japanese investment in the technology sector. A meeting with Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is also scheduled for Friday at the White House.

Details of the discussions between Trump and Buritt remain unclear. Last year, Trump stated, “I am totally against the once great and powerful U.S. Steel being bought by a foreign company, in this case Nippon Steel of Japan.” However, Nippon Steel emphasized that its acquisition plan aligns with Trump’s vision for a stronger U.S. as leaders from both nations prepare to convene.

“We are convinced that our acquisition plan is the best proposal for U.S. Steel, and I hope that the (Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru) Ishiba-Trump meeting will convey that to Trump and open the way for a deal,” said Takahiro Mori, Nippon Steel’s vice chairman, during a press briefing on Thursday.

In addition to Trump’s meeting with Buritt, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) and FedEx Executive Chairman Frederick Smith were present at the White House for meetings. It remains uncertain if they engaged directly with Trump. According to a Meta spokesperson, Zuckerberg attended discussions on how Meta can assist the administration in promoting American tech leadership abroad.