Critics of the Trump administration are slamming U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) for not yet commenting on President Trump’s decision to accept tens of millions of dollars’ worth of donated foreign steel for his $400 million East Wing ballroom project at the White House.
[NOTE: Trump, who had promised to strengthen the U.S. steel industry and protect it with 50 percent tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum, reversed his previous opposition to the acquisition of U.S. Steel — headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — by Japanese company Nippon Steel, in June 2025. Trump made an agreement with Nippon Steel which, as CSIS reported, “allows the U.S. government to veto key decisions and mandates $11 billion in investments for factory upgrades, no factory closures, and keeps the firm as a ‘controlled by the USA’ entity.”]
wonder why Pennsylvania’s senior U.S. Senator — who campaigned on bringing back American manufacturing and loves to talk about living across the street from a steel mill — hasn’t yet weighed in on this https://t.co/CPqYTxy870
— nick gavio (@njgavio) April 9, 2026
MAGA supporters on social media are largely defending Trump’s decision to accept the donated metal materials, saying it’s a savvy business move because he’s getting the steel for free.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro wrote: “President Trump’s use of foreign steel at the White House is a slap in the face to American steelmaking and the workers right here in Pennsylvania who power the industry. And he’s doing it as his tariffs are screwing over workers and driving up costs. The President should be putting American steel first.”
U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) also replied: “Foreign companies are now giving Trump donations for his ballroom at the White House. And in return at least one got a break on tariffs. Not only is his ballroom a ridiculous distraction, it’s just another way for big businesses to curry favor with a blatantly corrupt administration.”
President Trump’s use of foreign steel at the White House is a slap in the face to American steelmaking and the workers right here in Pennsylvania who power the industry.
And he’s doing it as his tariffs are screwing over workers and driving up costs.
The President should be… https://t.co/pHeJWWbFVp
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) April 9, 2026
Critics of Fetterman — who has lately broken rank to vote in favor of some Trump policies, including the controversial SAVE Act — are slamming the Democratic Senator for not addressing the steel donation. Many noted that Fetterman’s last post on X, dated Tuesday, April 7, is about ICE arresting undocumented immigrants in New England.
That’s the same day the President threatened to kill a “whole civilization” in Iran. More than one critic slammed Fetterman with comments including “Really John? This is what you’re tweeting about this afternoon? Maybe speak out about what #TacoPedo is threatening today!”