POLITICS

Trump administration offers some details of how it would control US Steel, but union raises concerns

Jun 15, 2025, 6:41 PM

President Donald Trump arrives to speak at U.S. Steel Corporation's Mon Valley Works-Irvin plant, F...

President Donald Trump arrives to speak at U.S. Steel Corporation's Mon Valley Works-Irvin plant, Friday, May 30, 2025, in West Mifflin, Pa. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS

(AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — President Donald Trump would have unique influence over the operations of U.S. Steel under the terms of the investment being made by Nippon Steel.

Administration officials over the past few days provided additional insight into the “golden share” arrangement that the federal government made as a condition for supporting the partnership. The Pittsburgh-based steel maker and Nippon Steel plan $11 billion in new investments by 2028 after indicating that they plan to move forward in a partnership.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick posted on social media on Saturday how the “golden share” to be held by the president would operate, revealing that the White House is willing to insert itself aggressively into a private company’s affairs even as it has simultaneously pledged to strip away government regulations so businesses can expand.

Under the government’s terms, it would be impossible without Trump’s consent to relocate U.S. Steel’s headquarters from Pittsburgh, change the name of the company, “transfer production or jobs outside the United States,” shutter factories, or reincorporate the business overseas, among other powers held by the president.

Lutnick also said it would require presidential approval to reduce or delay $14 billion in planned investments. That figure is higher than what the companies disclosed on Friday when Trump created a pathway for the investment with an executive order based on the terms of the national security agreement being accepted.

“The Golden Share held by the United States in U.S. Steel has powerful terms that directly benefit and protect America, Pennsylvania, the great steelworkers of U.S. Steel, and U.S. manufacturers that will have massively expanded access to domestically produced steel,” Lutnick posted on X.

The president has the authority to name one of the corporate board’s independent three directors and veto power over the other two choices, according to a person familiar with the terms of the agreement who insisted on anonymity to discuss them. The details of the board structure were first reported by The New York Times.

Still, the full terms remain somewhat unclear.

Nippon Steel has never publicly backed off the idea that it is buying U.S. Steel as a wholly owned subsidiary.

On Sunday, the United Steelworkers, the labor union representing U.S. Steel employees, posted a letter raising questions about the deal forged by Trump, who during his run for the presidency had pledged to block any merger.

The union said it was “disappointed” that Trump “has reversed course” and raised basic questions about the ownership structure of U.S. Steel.

“Neither the government nor the companies have publicly identified what all the terms of the proposed transaction are,” the letter said. “Our labor agreement expires next year, on September 1, 2026, and the USW and its members are prepared to engage the new owners” of U.S. Steel “to obtain a fair contract.”

If Trump has as much control of U.S. Steel as he has claimed, that could put him in the delicate position of negotiating the salary and benefits of unionized steelworkers going into midterm elections.

___

Levy reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Politics

Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., speaks during a news conference on tariffs, Thursday, J...

Associated Press

Senate heads home with no deal to speed confirmations as irate Trump tells Schumer to ‘go to hell’

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is leaving Washington Saturday night for its monthlong August recess without a deal to advance dozens of President Donald Trump’s nominees, calling it quits after days of contentious bipartisan negotiations and Trump posting on social media that Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer can “GO TO HELL!” Without a deal in […]

4 hours ago

The U.S. Capitol is reflected in a puddle outside of the Rayburn House Office Building, Wednesday, ...

Associated Press

Senate confirms former Fox News host Pirro as top federal prosecutor for the nation’s capital

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has confirmed former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as the top federal prosecutor for the nation’s capital, filling the post after President Donald Trump withdrew his controversial first pick, conservative activist Ed Martin Jr. Pirro, a former county prosecutor and elected judge, was confirmed 50-45. Before becoming the acting U.S. […]

5 hours ago

Associated Press

Authorities investigating ex-Trump prosecutor Jack Smith for alleged illegal political activity

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) — Federal officials have opened an investigation into Jack Smith, the former special counsel who investigated then-candidate Donald Trump before his reelection to a second term. The Office of Special Counsel, an independent federal agency, on Saturday confirmed the investigation.

9 hours ago

The President Bush, a container vessel operating under the American President Lines (APL) fleet, is...

Associated Press

From Laos to Brazil, Trump’s tariffs leave a lot of losers. But even the winners will pay a price

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s tariff onslaught this week left a lot of losers – from small, poor countries like Laos and Algeria to wealthy U.S. trading partners like Canada and Switzerland. They’re now facing especially hefty taxes – tariffs – on the products they export to the United States starting Aug. 7. The […]

14 hours ago

FILE -Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the former Senate Republican leader and member of the Senate App...

Associated Press

Before the attacks, Senate candidates seek to define themselves in Kentucky

CALVERT CITY, Ky. (AP) — Three Republicans competing to succeed longtime Sen. Mitch McConnell tried to define themselves before the political attacks that could come Saturday when they share the spotlight at the Fancy Farm picnic, a daunting rite of passage for candidates seeking statewide office in Kentucky. “You’re going to hear some barbs tomorrow, […]

17 hours ago

A woman holds a sign during a rally to protest against redistricting hearings at the Texas Capitol,...

Associated Press

Limited options for Democrats to retaliate if Texas Republicans redraw congressional map

WASHINGTON (AP) — As Republicans move to redraw legislative maps in red states to pad their narrow House majority in Washington, some Democrats are rethinking their embrace of a nonpartisan approach to line-drawing that now complicates their party’s ability to hit back before next year’s midterm elections. In many Democratic-controlled states, independent commissions rather than […]

17 hours ago

Trump administration offers some details of how it would control US Steel, but union raises concerns