Media reports say US President Donald Trump met US Steel CEO David Burritt at the White House on Thursday. They are likely to have discussed a Japanese steelmaker's planned takeover of the US firm.

Bloomberg and other media outlets carried the report on the same day. Details of the meeting remain unknown.

Observers say Burritt may have explained Nippon Steel's plan to buy US Steel and asked for the president's cooperation to help the deal go through.

In January, former President Joe Biden issued an order to block the Japanese steelmaker's buyout, citing national security concerns.

The two firms filed a lawsuit seeking to nullify the order and demanding a fresh review of the deal. They insist Biden's decision was unlawful political interference.

Trump showed his opposition to the takeover bid during his presidential election campaign in 2024.

Last month, he wrote on social media, "Why would they want to sell U.S. Steel now when Tariffs will make it a much more profitable and valuable company?"

Observers are waiting to hear Trump's opinions on the takeover bid, as he is due to hold summit talks with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru on Friday.