Warren Calls on Trump Administration to Reject Foreign Steel for Ballroom Project, Warns of Pay-to-Play Concerns Related to Tariff Relief

Warren Calls on Trump Administration to Reject Foreign Steel for Ballroom Project, Warns of Pay-to-Play Concerns Related to Tariff Relief

New report indicates that Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal secretly donated tens of millions of dollars worth of foreign steel for Trump's ballroom, days before Trump offered potential tariff relief

Warren calls the move "shameless" and a "betrayal of the President's promise to American workers"

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) pushed Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to reject foreign steel company ArcelorMittal's, donation of steel to Donald Trump's White House ballroom, citing the company's efforts to influence the White House at the expense of American steelworkers.

This week, it was reported that the White House secretly secured a donation of tens of millions of dollars of foreign-made steel for use in President Trump's ballroom, days before the President handed the company potential relief from his tariffs

According to the report, the President, last October, accepted a donation of tens of millions of dollars worth of steel from ArcelorMittal, a Luxembourg-based firm and the world's second-largest steel maker, for use in his ballroom. Just days after accepting this donation, President Trump issued a proclamation that could result in halving tariffs on automotive steel produced in Canada -where ArcelorMittal has one of its largest North American plants. Until the latest reporting, this donation from ArcelorMittal was kept secret from the public.

"This secret donation - and its acceptance by the White House - casts doubt on the President's commitment to supporting the American steel industry, and raises questions about what exactly ArcelorMittal, the Luxembourg-based company that is reportedly providing it, received or expects to receive in return for its generosity," wrote Senator Warren.

This is just the latest in a string of examples of giant corporations with active business before the federal government-ranging from Meta to Lockheed Martin - donating to Trump's ballroom, and either having or are seeking regulatory favors, federal contracts, or other giveaways. However, this particular move undercuts President Trump's promise to "bring back" steel jobs and use "American steel for American infrastructure."

"President Trump's solicitation of donations for his illegal ballroom reeks of corruption," wrote the senator. "But President Trump's apparent pay-for-play deal with a foreign steel company could be one of his most shameless yet, undercutting a fundamental component of his supposed "America First" agenda: protecting U.S. steel manufacturing and workers."

Senator Warren is calling on the Trump administration officials to reverse course and reject ArcelorMittal's donation-and the donations of any company seeking to influence the White House at the expense of American workers.

"While a federal judge has ordered the administration to pause construction on the ballroom, ultimately any changes, renovations, or updates to the White House that may occur should first draw on the resources our domestic American steelworkers proudly provide," wrote the senator.

Senator Warren is also pushing the administration for answers on its relationship with ArcelorMittal, the circumstances leading to their donation, and whether the administration cut or intends to cut tariffs or hand out other favors for ArcelorMittal or other ballroom donors in exchange for these donations.

###