(Adnkronos) – The White House has obtained a supply of European steel worth tens of millions of dollars for the new presidential ballroom project desired by Donald Trump, an intervention estimated at around 400 million in total. According to two informed sources told the New York Times, the material will be supplied by ArcelorMittal, a steel giant based in Luxembourg, and largely produced in Europe.
The president had already hinted last October at a steel donation worth about 37 million dollars, speaking of an offer received from a “large company”. “I would like to donate the steel for your ballroom,” the company representative reportedly said, according to Trump himself, who also emphasized the quality of the material compared to what he called “poor quality” coming from abroad.
Since 2018, the Trump administration has imposed 25% tariffs on foreign steel, later raised to 50% in 2024, with the aim of boosting domestic production. Meanwhile, some tariff changes adopted shortly after the donation announcement could favor companies with facilities in North America, including ArcelorMittal itself. The White House, however, rejected any direct link between the two issues, emphasizing that the ballroom project will not incur costs for taxpayers and that several companies, including American ones, are contributing with donations.
