President Trump Announces New Iowa Steel Plant

President Donald J. Trump's full remarks at a White House announcement on a new steel plant in Iowa. He announced that Mesabi Metallics will build what he called the largest steel plant in American history in southeastern Iowa, producing 10 million tons of steel a year from iron ore mined at the company's mine in Minnesota, which he described as the first new iron ore mine in the United States in more than 50 years. He said the project is expected to create up to 6,000 construction jobs and nearly 2,000 manufacturing and mining jobs.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, the chairman of the Export-Import Bank, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Senator Joni Ernst, members of Iowa's congressional delegation, and leaders of the company's parent group also spoke, crediting steel tariffs and describing a domestic supply chain from mine to mill.

The President then took questions from reporters on topics including steel and national security, Iowa's Senate and House races, Iran, China, the Congo-Rwanda peace agreement, trade with Canada, and gas prices ahead of the midterm elections.