White House Fumbles Executive Order Blocking Nippon Steel’s $15 Billion Acquisition of U.S. Steel
The White House appeared to make a glaring mistake in its executive order Friday, barring Nippon Steel’s $15 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel. The order inadvertently included language from a May executive order on Chinese real estate transactions, leaving many questioning the administration’s attention to detail.
The slip-up was first noticed by journalist Ken Moriyasu, who pointed out the blunder on social media. Moriyasu tweeted:
“Oops. White House copy-and-pastes from a previous presidential order on a Chinese real estate transaction and uses it for the Nippon Steel announcement. And forgets to delete the title.”
The error, found in the title of the archived executive order, refers to the acquisition of “certain real property of Cheyenne leads by MineOne cloud computing investment I L.P.”—a phrase lifted verbatim from the earlier directive.
Despite the bureaucratic blunder, the decision to block the sale marks a significant move in the administration’s ongoing effort to prioritize U.S. national security.
National Security Concerns
President Joe Biden explained his rationale for halting the acquisition in a Friday statement. He emphasized that U.S. Steel’s domestic ownership is vital to safeguarding the nation’s security and critical supply chains.
“We need major U.S. companies representing the major share of U.S. steelmaking capacity to keep leading the fight on behalf of America’s national interests,” Biden said. “This acquisition would place one of America’s largest steel producers under foreign control and create risk for our national security.”
The decision follows a national security review initiated in December 2024 after government experts failed to reach a consensus on whether to approve the deal.
Nippon Steel’s Argument
Nippon Steel, Japan’s largest steel producer, announced its intention to purchase U.S. Steel on January 5, 2024. The company contended that the merger would allow both firms to compete more effectively against China’s state-backed Baowu Steel Group, a global leader in steel production.
However, the administration sided with national security experts, asserting that foreign ownership of such a crucial industry poses unacceptable risks.
A Pattern of Errors?
This latest executive order misstep adds to a growing list of criticisms regarding administrative mishaps. The Daily Caller reports that the White House has not responded to requests for comment on the matter.
Observers have noted that such errors undermine the credibility of policy decisions, even when those decisions are rooted in sound reasoning.
Political and Economic Implications
Blocking the Nippon Steel deal reinforces the Biden administration’s broader commitment to “Buy American” policies and economic nationalism. However, it also raises questions about how foreign investors will view the U.S. as a destination for business.
The $15 billion deal could have brought significant capital into the American economy. Critics argue that the administration’s national security concerns may overlook potential economic benefits.
The Bigger Picture
Biden’s move to halt the sale aligns with his administration’s efforts to curb foreign influence in strategic industries. While the executive order’s language may have been sloppy, the policy message remains clear: protecting U.S. industries deemed vital to national security is non-negotiable.
The gaffe is likely to fuel partisan debates over the administration’s competence, but the underlying decision reflects an enduring commitment to putting America’s strategic interests first.
For now, the spotlight remains on the White House’s process—raising questions not just about what gets decided but how those decisions are communicated to the public.