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Gone quiet · last update Jun 18, 2025 / U.S. Steel

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

Overview · reviewed October 28, 2026

Japan's Nippon Steel agreed in December 2023 to buy U.S. Steel, the century-old Pittsburgh steelmaker, for about $14.1 billion, setting off an 18-month political fight.[1][2] President Joe Biden blocked the deal in January 2025 on national security grounds, but President Donald Trump approved a revised version, and Nippon Steel completed its purchase of all of U.S. Steel in June 2025 under a national security agreement with the US government.[3][4][5]

Read the timeline

Follow this story to see new developments when you return.

President Joe Biden blocked the deal in January 2025 on national security grounds, but President Donald Trump approved a revised version, and Nippon Steel completed its purchase of all of U.S. Steel in June 2025 under a national security agreement with the US government.[3][4][5]

Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · monthly average of weekly shares (UTC)

Aug 2023: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 3 of 3 weeksSep 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksNov 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2023: average weekly share 5% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2024: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2024: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksMay 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2024: average weekly share 5% (left 1%, center 3%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2024: average weekly share 7% (left 1%, center 3%, right 2%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2025: average weekly share 6% (left 2%, center 3%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2025: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2025: average weekly share 2% (left under 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2025: average weekly share 6% (left 1%, center 3%, right 2%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2025: average weekly share 4% (left 1%, center 3%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 2 of 2 weeks, so far

LeftCenterRight

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings. Over more than two years each bar is a month: the average of that month's weekly shares, so the shape stays readable. The weekly table below keeps every week. We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 4 more outlets off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (19 weeks with coverage)
Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)LeftCenterRightOf trackedShareReceipts
Jun 16, 2025310114 of 11812%
Jun 9, 202549518 of 1999%
May 26, 2025413623 of 19112%
May 19, 2025411621 of 19711%
Apr 7, 202529314 of 1947%
Feb 3, 202587419 of 19010%
Jan 13, 202536110 of 2284%
Jan 6, 20251221841 of 22119%
Dec 30, 202414321965 of 19533%
Sep 23, 202426311 of 2145%
Sep 16, 20240415 of 2092%
Sep 2, 20241219435 of 21217%
Apr 29, 20242327 of 2373%
Apr 15, 202446515 of 2476%
Apr 8, 20243339 of 2643%
Mar 11, 20241215734 of 24314%
Dec 18, 202312201345 of 23619%
Aug 28, 20232439 of 2653%
Aug 14, 202328515 of 2466%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

  1. Jun 17, 2025 · first reported · Headline from ABC 30 Fresno

    Nippon Steel finalizes $15B takeover of US Steel after sealing security agreement

Background

In August 2023 U.S. Steel rejected a $7.3 billion offer from its rival Cleveland-Cliffs and began reviewing other bids.[6][7] That December it agreed to be sold to Nippon Steel,[1] and lawmakers from both parties, including Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, attacked the sale.[8] Biden said the deal deserved "serious scrutiny"[9] and in March 2024 said it was "vital" that U.S. Steel remain American-owned.[10] Shareholders approved the sale in April,[2] while Biden promised union steelworkers he would block it.[11] U.S. Steel warned that without the merger it might close mills and move its headquarters,[12] and Vice President Kamala Harris also said it should stay domestically owned.[13]

On January 3, 2025, Biden blocked the takeover, saying it threatened national security.[3] After taking office, Trump first suggested that Nippon Steel would invest in U.S. Steel rather than buy it,[14] then in April ordered a new national security review.[15] In May he announced a "planned partnership" that would keep the company's headquarters in Pittsburgh,[16][17] and in June he signed an allowing the deal if Nippon Steel complied with a national security agreement.[4] Nippon Steel then finalized its purchase of 100% of U.S. Steel.[5]

Supporting stories (17)
  1. Japanese company to buy US Steel, valuing the famed American manufacturing company at roughly $15B
  2. U.S. Steel shareholders approve takeover by Japan’s Nippon Steel opposed by Biden administration
  3. Biden blocks Japan's Nippon Steel from acquiring U.S. Steel
  4. Trump order allows Japan-based Nippon to invest in US Steel despite security concerns
  5. US Steel, once America’s biggest company, is now under foreign ownership
  6. US Steel rejects a $7.3 billion offer from rival Cleveland-Cliffs; considers alternatives
  7. The 122-year-old U.S. Steel is reviewing 'numerous' buyout offers
  8. John Fetterman, J.D. Vance vow to fight Nippon's purchase of U.S. Steel
  9. President Joe Biden says Nippon Steel deal for U.S. Steel needs 'serious scrutiny'
  10. Biden says it’s ‘vital’ US Steel remain American owned and operated
  11. Biden vows to block U.S. Steel acquisition by Japanese company
  12. US Steel warns plants could close without Nippon sale
  13. Harris opposes U.S. Steel's sale to a Japanese firm in Pennsylvania appearance with Biden
  14. Trump says Nippon Steel to 'invest' in US Steel, not buy it
  15. US Steel hits 52-week high after Trump orders new security review of Nippon Steel bid
  16. Trump says US Steel will keep HQ in Pittsburgh in a sign he'll approve bid by Japan-based Nippon
  17. Officials say steel deal would give US control

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 29 recorded updates

June 2025

  1. US Steel, once America’s biggest company, is now under foreign ownershipHeadline from KVIA El Paso · 15 outlets
  2. Trump order allows Japan-based Nippon to invest in US Steel despite security concernsHeadline from Fox2 Detroit · 19 outlets

May 2025

  1. President Trump visits Pittsburgh to celebrate U.S. Steel-Nippon Steel dealHeadline from NPR · 15 outlets
  2. Trump says US Steel will keep HQ in Pittsburgh in a sign he'll approve bid by Japan-based NipponHeadline from Minneapolis Star Tribune · 8 outlets
  3. Officials say steel deal would give US controlHeadline from Arkansas Democrat-Gazette · 22 outlets

April 2025

  1. US Steel hits 52-week high after Trump orders new security review of Nippon Steel bidHeadline from KOB 4 · 14 outlets

February 2025

  1. Trump says Nippon Steel to 'invest' in US Steel, not buy itHeadline from Digital Journal · 19 outlets

January 2025

  1. A new rival bid for U.S. Steel is emerging as the U.S. extends deadline on Nippon’s bid blocked by BidenHeadline from The Columbian · 10 outlets
  2. Nippon Steel may sue US government over Biden’s decision to block US Steel acquisitionHeadline from CNN · 52 outlets
  3. Biden blocks Japan's Nippon Steel from acquiring U.S. SteelHeadline from NBC News · 61 outlets

September 2024

  1. Steelworkers lose arbitration case against US Steel in their bid to derail sale to NipponHeadline from The Columbian · 11 outlets
  2. Japan's Nippon Steel gets a 3 month reprieve as Washington pushes review of U.S. Steel bid past the electionHeadline from Fortune · 5 outlets
  3. Cleveland Cliffs offers to buy unionized mills US Steel is threatening to closeHeadline from KTVZ Bend · 6 outlets
  4. President Biden prepared to block US Steel purchase by Nippon SteelHeadline from ABC 7 San Francisco · 17 outlets
  5. US Steel warns plants could close without Nippon saleHeadline from Digital Journal · 6 outlets
  6. Harris opposes U.S. Steel's sale to a Japanese firm in Pennsylvania appearance with BidenHeadline from Los Angeles Times · 21 outlets

May 2024

  1. Nippon Steel delays closing of acquisition of U.S. Steel until late this year after U.S. DOJ requestHeadline from Triblive · 7 outlets

April 2024

  1. Biden vows to block U.S. Steel acquisition by Japanese companyHeadline from Honolulu Star-Advertiser · 15 outlets
  2. U.S. Steel shareholders approve takeover by Japan’s Nippon Steel opposed by Biden administrationHeadline from Washington Times · 9 outlets

March 2024

  1. Biden says it’s ‘vital’ US Steel remain American owned and operatedHeadline from KTVZ Bend · 3 outlets
  2. Biden opposes plan to sell US Steel to a Japanese firm, citing the need for ‘American steel workers’Headline from Bowling Green Daily News · 33 outlets

December 2023

  1. President Joe Biden says Nippon Steel deal for U.S. Steel needs 'serious scrutiny'Headline from UPI · 15 outlets
  2. John Fetterman, J.D. Vance vow to fight Nippon's purchase of U.S. SteelHeadline from UPI · 5 outlets
  3. Stock market today: Wall Street edges higher; US Steel soars after deal with Nippon SteelHeadline from Minneapolis Star Tribune · 7 outlets
  4. Japanese company to buy US Steel, valuing the famed American manufacturing company at roughly $15BHeadline from ABC 7 Chicago · 38 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →