ICYMI: Ashley Hinson Hypes $15 Billion Steel Mill With No Land, No Permits and No Money Behind It

KWQC: Trump calls $15B Iowa steel plant done deal, but records reveal major hurdles remain

On Monday, Ashley Hinson stood in the Oval Office and helped Donald Trump sell Iowans a steel mill that so far only exists in a press conference. Trumpannounced a $15 billion Mesabi Metallics plant in Lee County, and Hinson took her turn at the podium to celebrate it. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called the deal “done” while Trump claimed, “They’ve already started building.” Local reporting found those claims don’t hold up.

KWQC in Davenport checked Lee County land records and found no major property purchases tied to the project. No permits have been filed. Company officials told the station they don’t have details about their plans.

Officials still haven’t disclosed where in Lee County the plant would go. No financing for the project has been made public. And the “done” deal isn’t done: Iowa lawmakers are being called back to the Capitol Friday for a special session to rewrite state incentives for the company.

“Ashley Hinson is so desperate to save her Senate campaign that she stood in the Oval Office and vouched for a steel mill with no land, no permits and no money behind it,” said Senate Majority PAC press secretary Christyna Thompson. “Iowans looking for good-paying jobs deserve the truth. They sure don’t need a photo op staged to bail out Hinson’s campaign.”