JD Vance Announces $1 Billion Steel Investment in Ohio

Vice President JD Vance announced a $1 billion investment by Cleveland-Cliffs to modernize steelmaking operations at the Middletown Works facility in Middletown, Ohio. The funding will upgrade the iron-making furnace and implement new technology to optimize operations and improve local air quality. Vance attributed the investment to the Trump administration's trade, energy, and immigration policies, specifically citing tariffs and restrictions on illegal immigration as tools to prioritize American workers over offshoring to China and Mexico.

During the announcement, Vance claimed that manufacturing created 229,000 jobs in 2026 and that factory construction employment has increased by 83,000 since President Donald Trump's inauguration. He framed the project as a victory for the America First economic agenda, noting that his grandfather once worked at the same plant.

Following the industrial announcement, Vance traveled to Cincinnati to campaign for Republican candidates. He appeared alongside congressional candidate Eric Conroy at Price Hill Chili, where he criticized incumbent Congressman Greg Landsman for supporting "crazy, left-wing ideas." The visit also prompted the City of Cincinnati to implement road closures around Vance's residence in East Walnut Hills for security purposes from Thursday through Sunday.