The intersection of politics and national security likely played a role in President Joe Biden's decision to reject the proposed sale of U.S. Steel to a Japanese company, according to experts. The White House announcement Friday morning to halt the nearly $15 billion deal to transfer ownership of the iconic Pittsburgh-based steel giant to Nippon Steel Corp.

Saying a sale would threaten U.S. security, President Joe Biden blocked a Japanese company’s $15 billion bid to purchase Pennsylvania’s U.S. Steel on Friday. “Steel production — and the steel workers who produce it — are the backbone of our nation,