President Trump said Friday that his opposition to the purchase of U.S. Steel by a Japanese company remains firm.

During a White House meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Mr. Trump was asked if he had changed his mind about the deal.

“No,” Mr. Trump responded. “I think we are going to be discussing that today.”

He later repeated that he hasn’t changed his mind about opposing the deal. Mr. Ishiba has sought to change Mr. Trump’s opinion about it. 

U.S.-Japanese ties have been strained by the $15 billion bid by Japan’s largest steelmaker, Nippon Steel, to buy U.S. Steel. President Biden blocked the deal last month, citing national security concerns.

As for Mr. Trump, he said on the campaign trail that U.S. Steel is too connected to America’s legacy and security to be purchased by a foreign company.

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Still, Eiji Hashimoto, Nippon Steel’s CEO, told reporters last month that there was “no reason or need to give up” on the acquisition.

“This is not just the most important matter for our company’s business strategy,” he said. “I am firmly convinced this is something extremely beneficial for Japan and the United States.” 

Takahiro Mori, vice president of Nippon Steel, the world’s fourth-largest steelmaker, told reporters in Japan on Thursday that the company hopes the Trump-Ishiba meeting will be a “catalyst” paving the way toward a deal. Nippon has sued the U.S. government over blocking the acquisition.

• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.