BRADDOCK, Pa. — In American politics, when negotiating hard deals that involve high risk and the livelihoods of all involved while requiring great compromise, pain is usually shared unequally. The rarest outcome is for all involved to be grateful.Yet that was the overwhelming sentiment expressed by the local union leaders, steel workers, plant managers, and U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt when Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick visited the iconic U.S. Steel Edgar Thomson Works, one year after the hard-fought Nippon deal that included a heavy lift from President Donald Trump.Even before Lutnick and Burritt took to the microphone after an hourlong tour of Edgar Thomson, it was evident that every man and woman who ran the plant operations at the Mon Valley Work sites were thankful not only that the controversial deal was done, but that investments have already begun and increased one year later.
Lutnick walked over the crowd of steelworkers in their hard hats and bright orange fireproof protective gear, a dozen wide and a dozen deep, and shook hands with each one.
U.S. Steel President and CEO David B. Burritt, left, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick at the company’s Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock, Pennsylvania, June 8, 2026. (Justin Merriman / for The Washington Examiner)
