Editorial: Why is Trump's opposition to U.S. Steel sale a 'gut punch?'

On Monday, President-elect Donald Trump took to social media to make a statement about his feelings on an issue of domestic economy and foreign relations.

“I am totally against the once great and powerful U.S. Steel being bought by a foreign company, in this case Nippon Steel of Japan,” he stated unequivocally on his Truth Social platform.

A day later, United Steelworkers Local 2227 President Jack Maskil and Vice President Jason Zugai held a panel discussion with conservative think tank the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C., along with West Mifflin Mayor Chris Kelly. They were there to talk about the $14.9 billion deal’s impact on the Greater Pittsburgh area and the steel industry.

Most of the panel was focused on softball questions and supportive statements about the sale, until moderator and Hudson’s Deputy Director William Chou asked about Trump’s opposition.

“I’m very frustrated with the news that came out last night,” Zugai said. “I didn’t expect that to come out. So that was like a gut punch.”

Frustration makes sense. Local leaders like Zugai, Kelly and Maskil have been championing the deal, including appearing in videos on U.S. Steel’s YouTube page or in commercials. While United Steelworkers leadership has been against the deal, it’s harder for the guys at the plant to stand against something that might let them and their buddies keep their jobs.

But it shouldn’t have been a gut punch. It shouldn’t have been unexpected.

Trump has been against the Nippon deal for almost a year. His running mate, U.S. Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, was one of the first voices against it.

Perhaps that message was being whispered in places where steelworkers would hear it while being trumpeted in circles concerned with national security — one of the major issues Democrats and Republicans have with the proposal.

Trump and Vance spent lots of time in the region this year, especially after the primary. Despite courting steelworker votes, the future of U.S. Steel was seldom the topic. Zugai said he attended rallies in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties and never heard opposition.

But at a Teamsters meeting in January, Trump was clear where he stood.

“I would block (the deal) instantly,” he said.

The statement was covered nationally by outlets like Bloomberg and Politico. The once-and-future president’s words were also covered by local media.

It makes sense for the guys on the ground and the guys in the suits to have different priorities when it comes to a major move that has implications for the state and national economy as well as national security and politics.

That’s no doubt why Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is a bit more diplomatic about the deal. Keeping jobs in Alle­gheny County and a major industry in Western Pennsylvania is not just an election year issue in the Keystone State.

But while the Hudson Institute panel repeatedly focused on opposition from Democratic politicians, it’s just as important to realize that all year, Republicans from the top down have also been against the Nippon deal. Acting like that’s a surprise doesn’t help anybody.