Donald Trump just gave the big thumbs-up to Japanese giant Nippon Steel’s plan to scoop up U.S. Steel.
You heard that right. After months of drama, backlash, and political tug-of-war, The Donald’s blessing means this $14 billion deal — yep, billion with a B — is officially back on the fast track.
“I love steel,” Trump told reporters, sounding like he was about to launch a MAGA-branded furnace. “This deal will bring jobs, money, and strength back to American soil.” Okay, maybe not that dramatic, but close.
According to Politico, Trump had a little phone chat with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and came out of it grinning like he just closed a deal on Trump Tower Tokyo.
And here’s the juicy part — the deal is expected to pump up to $14 billion into the U.S. economy and create at least 70,000 jobs. That’s a lot of steel-toe boots. Most of that investment will roll in within 14 months, sources told CBS News.
U.S. Steel will still fly the red, white, and blue — staying headquartered in Pittsburgh and keeping its American roots. But it’ll now have a little Japanese muscle backing it up.
If you’re wondering, “Wait, didn’t Biden block this?” — you’re not wrong. Back in January, Biden shut it down faster than a rusty furnace door, citing national security. The United Steelworkers union wasn’t exactly thrilled either, pushing for Cleveland-Cliffs, a domestic buyer.
But Trump’s playing the long game — or at least the 2024 election game. With union support slipping, a big-time pro-jobs deal like this is his ticket back into blue-collar hearts.
He even called it a “planned partnership” — which honestly sounds more like a celebrity engagement than a business deal, but hey, it works.
And just like that, U.S. Steel’s stock exploded, jumping 21%, per Investopedia. Wall Street seems to love it more than Trump loves gold-plated escalators.
So what’s next? Trump’s throwing a victory rally in Pittsburgh on May 30. Expect hats. Expect chants. Expect “Make American Steel Great Again” banners.