Nippon Steel's takeover of U.S. Steel, from the 2023 sale to Trump's approval

Gone quiet · last story Jun 18, 2025

What this arc covers

The sale of U.S. Steel to Japan's Nippon Steel: U.S. Steel's 2023 review of buyout offers and its rejection of a rival's bid, Nippon's agreement to buy it, Biden's and Trump's opposition to the deal during the 2024 campaign, Biden's decision to block it in January 2025, Nippon's threat to sue and a rival bid, Trump's new security review, the deal giving the US government control over some decisions, Trump's Pittsburgh celebration, and his June order allowing the investment.

U.S. Steel

Earliest story we hold Aug 14, 2023 · 29 stories · 141 independent sources (counted once each) · 674 days

Part ofU.S. SteelNippon Steel CorporationJapanJoe BidenDonald TrumpClevelandPennsylvaniaKamala Harris

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Jun 182025US Steel, once America’s biggest company, is now under foreign ownership15 articles · 15 independent sources
3 left, 8 center, 1 right
Jun 12– 142025Trump order allows Japan-based Nippon to invest in US Steel despite security concerns32 articles · 19 independent sources
2 left, 9 center, 4 right
May 302025President Trump visits Pittsburgh to celebrate U.S. Steel-Nippon Steel deal21 articles · 15 independent sources
3 left, 8 center, 3 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Dec 18 – 19, 2023Japanese company to buy US Steel, valuing the famed American manufacturing company at roughly $15B46 articles · 38 independent sources
  2. Mar 14 – 15, 2024Biden opposes plan to sell US Steel to a Japanese firm, citing the need for ‘American steel workers’39 articles · 33 independent sources
  3. Jan 3, 2025Biden blocks Japan's Nippon Steel from acquiring U.S. Steel100 articles · 61 independent sources
  4. Jan 3 – 6, 2025Nippon Steel may sue US government over Biden’s decision to block US Steel acquisition77 articles · 52 independent sources
  5. May 23 – 28, 2025Officials say steel deal would give US control32 articles · 22 independent sources
    1. May 23, 2025President Trump says Nippon Steel and US Steel to enter into ‘partnership’
    2. May 28, 2025Only lean-right coverage:US Steel deal with Nippon could move forward under Trump administration

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Aug 2023Dec 2023May 2024Sep 2024Feb 2025Jun 2025

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Aug 14, 202318419
Aug 28, 202303110
Dec 18, 202310181175
Mar 11, 2024913543
Apr 8, 20242329
Apr 15, 202436315
Apr 29, 20241217
Sep 2, 2024917472
Sep 16, 20240415
Sep 23, 202415217
Dec 30, 2024122913116
Jan 6, 2025918653
Jan 13, 202516114
Feb 3, 202555321
Apr 7, 202518314
May 19, 202509625
May 26, 2025312637
Jun 9, 202529431
Jun 16, 202538114

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

23% left · 59% center · 18% right of 141 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 29 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. August 2023

    Aug 14U.S. Steel Stock Jumps After It Rejects Rival’s Takeover Offer6 articles · 6 independent sources
    0 left, 4 center, 2 right
  2. Aug 14US Steel rejects a $7.3 billion offer from rival Cleveland-Cliffs; considers alternatives7 articles · 7 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 2 right
  3. Aug 14– 15Privately held Esmark makes offer for US Steel, sets up bidding contest for iconic steelmaker6 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 4 center, 0 right
  4. Aug 29– 30The 122-year-old U.S. Steel is reviewing 'numerous' buyout offers10 articles · 9 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 1 right

  5. December 2023

    Dec 18– 19Japanese company to buy US Steel, valuing the famed American manufacturing company at roughly $15B46 articles · 38 independent sources
    4 left, 17 center, 8 right
  6. Dec 18Stock market today: Wall Street edges higher; US Steel soars after deal with Nippon Steel7 articles · 7 independent sources
    4 left, 0 center, 0 right
  7. Dec 19John Fetterman, J.D. Vance vow to fight Nippon's purchase of U.S. Steel6 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 3 right
  8. Dec 20– 22President Joe Biden says Nippon Steel deal for U.S. Steel needs 'serious scrutiny'17 articles · 15 independent sources
    3 left, 5 center, 6 right

  9. March 2024

    Mar 14– 15Biden opposes plan to sell US Steel to a Japanese firm, citing the need for ‘American steel workers’39 articles · 33 independent sources
    9 left, 11 center, 5 right
  10. Mar 14– 15Biden says it’s ‘vital’ US Steel remain American owned and operated5 articles · 3 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right

  11. April 2024

    Apr 10– 12U.S. Steel shareholders approve takeover by Japan’s Nippon Steel opposed by Biden administration9 articles · 9 independent sources
    2 left, 3 center, 2 right
  12. Apr 17– 18Biden vows to block U.S. Steel acquisition by Japanese company15 articles · 15 independent sources
    3 left, 6 center, 3 right

  13. May 2024

  14. September 2024

    Sep 2– 3Harris opposes U.S. Steel's sale to a Japanese firm in Pennsylvania appearance with Biden27 articles · 21 independent sources
    3 left, 9 center, 1 right
  15. Sep 4– 5President Biden prepared to block US Steel purchase by Nippon Steel31 articles · 17 independent sources
    5 left, 8 center, 3 right
  16. Sep 4US Steel warns plants could close without Nippon sale7 articles · 6 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 3 right
  17. Sep 6Cleveland Cliffs offers to buy unionized mills US Steel is threatening to close7 articles · 6 independent sources
    2 left, 4 center, 0 right
  19. Sep 25– 26Steelworkers lose arbitration case against US Steel in their bid to derail sale to Nippon17 articles · 11 independent sources
    1 left, 5 center, 2 right

  20. January 2025

    Jan 3Biden blocks Japan's Nippon Steel from acquiring U.S. Steel100 articles · 61 independent sources
    11 left, 26 center, 12 right
  21. Jan 3– 6Nippon Steel may sue US government over Biden’s decision to block US Steel acquisition77 articles · 52 independent sources
    10 left, 23 center, 8 right
  22. Jan 13– 14A new rival bid for U.S. Steel is emerging as the U.S. extends deadline on Nippon’s bid blocked by Biden14 articles · 10 independent sources
    1 left, 6 center, 1 right

  23. February 2025

    Feb 7– 8Trump says Nippon Steel to 'invest' in US Steel, not buy it21 articles · 19 independent sources
    5 left, 5 center, 3 right

  24. April 2025

    Apr 7– 8US Steel hits 52-week high after Trump orders new security review of Nippon Steel bid14 articles · 14 independent sources
    1 left, 8 center, 3 right

  25. May 2025

    May 23– 28Officials say steel deal would give US control32 articles · 22 independent sources
    0 left, 9 center, 6 right
  26. May 23– 24Trump says US Steel will keep HQ in Pittsburgh in a sign he'll approve bid by Japan-based Nippon11 articles · 8 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 2 right
  27. May 30President Trump visits Pittsburgh to celebrate U.S. Steel-Nippon Steel deal21 articles · 15 independent sources
    3 left, 8 center, 3 right

  28. June 2025

    Jun 12– 14Trump order allows Japan-based Nippon to invest in US Steel despite security concerns32 articles · 19 independent sources
    2 left, 9 center, 4 right
  29. Jun 18US Steel, once America’s biggest company, is now under foreign ownership15 articles · 15 independent sources
    3 left, 8 center, 1 right