Trump Flip-Flopped on U.S. Steel Deal After Lobbying Blitz by His Top Bundlers

Donald Trump campaigned against Nippon Steel’s $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel, saying last year that it was a threat to American workers and pledging to block it “instantaneously.” But after a lobbying blitz led by two of his top campaign bundlers, Geoff Verhoff and Brian Ballard, Trump reversed course in May and announced support for the deal. Trump’s flip-flop favored his fundraisers’ interests over the United Steelworkers (USW), who oppose the deal, citing Nippon’s history of trade violations, unenforceable economic pledges, and their exclusion from the talks.