Trump Uses Foreign Steel for White House Ballroom Renovation

The former president's 'America First' policy appears to have exceptions when it comes to his personal projects.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 4:21am

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A serene, cinematic painting of a solitary steel beam in a dimly lit interior space, the beam bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of political tension and contradiction.The use of foreign steel for a personal White House renovation project casts a long shadow over the former president's 'America First' rhetoric.Washington Today

Former President Donald Trump is facing criticism after it was revealed that he is using tens of millions of dollars' worth of foreign steel, produced by the Luxembourg-based company ArcelorMittal, for the renovation of a new ballroom in the White House. This contradicts Trump's 'America First' policy and previous claims about only using high-quality American steel.

Why it matters

Trump's use of foreign steel for a personal White House project raises questions about the sincerity of his 'America First' rhetoric and policies, which included imposing tariffs on imported steel. It also highlights potential conflicts of interest and favoritism in the awarding of contracts for the ballroom renovation.

The details

According to the New York Times, ArcelorMittal, the world's second-largest steel maker, has donated steel for the White House ballroom project, which has already resulted in the demolition of the 123-year-old East Wing. The steel was produced in Europe, and Trump reportedly valued the donation at $37 million. The White House later altered its tariff policy in a way that could benefit ArcelorMittal by halving tariffs on automotive steel exports from its plant in Canada.

  • In October 2020, Trump hinted at the steel donation, saying a 'great steel company' had offered to provide $37 million worth of steel for the project.
  • Two days after Trump's comments about the steel donation, the White House altered its tariff policy in a way that could benefit ArcelorMittal.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president who campaigned on and enacted tariffs under the 'America First' policy, but is now using foreign steel for a personal White House project.

ArcelorMittal

The Luxembourg-based steel company that has donated tens of millions of dollars' worth of steel for the White House ballroom renovation project.

Lakshmi Mittal

The chairman of ArcelorMittal, who thanked Trump in person in 2020 for 'saving the steel industry in the United States.'

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What they’re saying

“He said, 'Sir, I'd like to donate the steel for your ballroom.' I said: 'Whoa, that's nice.' And I found out — 'How much is the steel?' I called the contractor. 'Sir, it's down for $37 million.' I said, 'This is a nice donation, right?'”

— Donald Trump, Former President

“Only people with a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome would find a problem with that.”

— Davis Ingle, White House Spokesperson

What’s next

The White House has not disclosed the identities of all the donors for the ballroom project, which is currently estimated to cost $400 million. The use of foreign steel for the project is likely to face continued scrutiny and criticism, especially given Trump's previous 'America First' rhetoric and policies.

The takeaway

Trump's use of foreign steel for a personal White House project despite his 'America First' policy raises questions about the sincerity of his rhetoric and potential conflicts of interest in the awarding of contracts. It highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in government projects, especially those involving the former president's personal interests.