Canada
April 10, 2026
White House used foreign steel in ballroom project: Report
Written by Laura Miller
A New York Times report says the White House has secured tens of millions of dollars’ worth of donated foreign steel for President Trump’s planned $400 million ballroom project.
According to the Times, ArcelorMittal, a Luxembourg-based steelmaker and the world’s second-largest producer, is donating the steel for the ballroom’s structure. The Times reported that two people familiar with the plans said the steel was produced in Europe, where much of ArcelorMittal’s manufacturing is located.
ArcelorMittal declined to comment about the Times article. The company operates steel mills around the world, including an EAF sheet mill in Calvert, Ala.
The White House has not released details of the donation. But the Times noted President Trump told donors last October he had been offered a steel donation valued at $37 million, saying a “great steel company” approached him with the offer.
Industry reaction
The Times reported that representatives of US steelmakers expressed concern that using foreign steel for a high-profile American project could frustrate domestic producers, especially given the administration’s emphasis on tariffs and reshoring.
Domestic steel producers contacted by SMU declined to comment or did not respond to requests for comment.
Brandon Farris, executive vice president of government affairs at the Steel Manufacturers Association, told SMU the domestic industry is “experiencing a resurgence” due to tariffs and is fully capable of supplying the steel needed for presidential projects. “Today, our members stand ready to supply the high-quality, American-made steel needed to bring the president’s infrastructure and manufacturing priorities to life,” he said.
Likewise, the United Steelworkers (USW) union said its members are ready to work. “Tens of thousands of American steelworkers stand at the ready to supply our nation with high-quality products,” USW International President Roxanne Brown said in a statement to SMU.
“The White House – the people’s house – belongs not to one person or administration, but to all of us. Any changes, any renovations, any updates to it should first draw on the resources our domestic workers proudly provide,” Brown added.
White House response
White House spokesman Davis Ingle defended the project in comments to the Times, saying President Trump is “making the White House beautiful and giving it the glory it deserves at no cost to the taxpayer – something everyone should celebrate.”
In a separate report from NBC News, the White House called Trump’s ballroom project a national security necessity. The report cites a Court of Appeals filing by the administration, urging that construction of the ballroom be allowed to continue. One filing described safety measures that “are built and/or ready to build,” including steel columns, beams, bomb shelters, and other structures and equipment.
