Trump’s 'largest' jobs project hits embarrassing snag

Key Points:

• President Trump announced the $15 billion Mesabi Metallics steel plant in Iowa as the largest in U.S. history and claimed construction had already begun, but local records show no property acquisitions or permits filed for the project.
• The plant is expected to create about 1,750 permanent jobs and thousands of temporary construction jobs, with production slated to start in 2030, but several approvals and steps remain before construction can commence.
• Iowa lawmakers held a special session to extend tax incentives worth over $1.3 billion to Mesabi, raising concerns among some Republicans about whether Iowa taxpayers received a good deal.
• The Mesabi project has yet to finalize a site or receive full approval from the Iowa Economic Development Authority, and the company's past projects have failed to meet deadlines and job commitments.
• Despite Trump's claims, the steel plant has not started construction, and the project still faces significant hurdles before moving forward.