Vice President Kamala Harris said for the first time that US Steel should remain domestically owned, saying during a campaign stop in Pittsburgh on Labor Day that it is “vital for our nation to maintain strong American steel companies.”
“The president mentioned it, US Steel is a historic American company, and it is vital for our nation to maintain strong American steel companies. And I couldn’t agree more with President Biden, US Steel should remain American owned and American operated,” Harris said to a crowd of union members.
Harris directly addressed the proposed sale of US Steel to Nippon Steel, Japan’s biggest steelmaker, a controversial deal the White House previously opposed, with President Joe Biden saying it is “important that we maintain strong American steel companies powered by American steel workers.”
Biden had outlined his position during a previous event in Pittsburgh, nicknamed “Steel City,” where he visited the headquarters of the United Steelworkers and called for higher tariffs to protect American manufacturing.
At Monday’s event, the vice president began her remarks by thanking Biden, who introduced her and stood near Harris while she spoke, encouraging the crowd to chant, “Thank you, Joe.”
“History will show what we here know, Joe Biden has been one of the most transformative presidents in the United States that we have ever witnessed,” Harris said.
Harris also noted that ballots will “start dropping in 14 days” in Pennsylvania, one of the most important swing states this election.
“This election is as much as anything else a fight for the promise of America,” she said.
