Vice President JD Vance Highlights 'Industrial Renaissance' at South Carolina Steel Plant Visit Amid Trump Administration's First 100 Days

Vice President JD Vance visited the Nucor Steel Berkeley facility in Huger, South Carolina, on May 1, 2025, praising American steelworkers and celebrating an “industrial renaissance” under President Donald Trump. This visit, Vance’s first to South Carolina, aimed to highlight the administration’s achievements in its first 100 days. Vance emphasized domestic manufacturing, energy independence, and protective tariffs. Nucor CEO Leon Topalian supported Trump’s tariff policies, noting increased orders. Vance, accompanied by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, also discussed energy policy, asserting no conflict between environmental protection and industrial growth.

A Celebration of American Industry

Standing before several hundred Nucor employees and guests on a gravel lot outside the sprawling 62-acre facility, Vance delivered a speech that underscored the administration’s commitment to American manufacturing. “I hope every single one of you, you guys in front of me, feel a sense of pride, because these are the products that actually make America work,” Vance said. “These are the products that make our citizens’ lives better.”

The vice president’s remarks were part of a series of events commemorating the Trump administration’s first 100 days in office. Vance described the moment as the launch of a “golden age of American manufacturing,” crediting Trump’s economic and trade policies for the resurgence in domestic industry.

Nucor Steel: A Symbol of Industrial Strength

Nucor Steel, the largest steelmaker and recycler in North America, played host to the event. The company operates 26 steel mills across the United States and produces approximately 25% of the steel consumed domestically. Its Berkeley County plant, located 35 miles north of Charleston, employs 1,000 workers and 350 contractors.

Nucor CEO Leon Topalian has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s tariff policies, which include a reinstated 25% tariff on all steel imports. “Those early moves—including 25-percent tariffs on steel and aluminum—are important for domestic heavy industry,” Topalian said. He noted that the company’s backlog of orders is currently 25% higher than the same time last year, signaling what he described as “improving signs coming through the economy.”

Despite an 11% decline in revenues in 2024, Nucor reported a 10% increase in production during the first quarter of 2025, according to its annual report. The company employs more than 32,000 Americans across 300 sites, including nine operations in South Carolina alone.

Tariffs and Trade: A Cornerstone of Policy

While Vance did not announce any new trade deals or changes to the existing tariff regime, he reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to protecting American industry through trade policy. Trump’s use of tariffs—particularly the 25% steel and aluminum tariffs—has been a defining feature of both his 2016 and 2024 presidential campaigns.

“President Donald Trump’s tariff policies,” Vance said, “are ushering in a golden age of American manufacturing,” drawing a personal connection to his grandfather, who worked for four decades as a welder at Armco Steel in Middletown, Ohio.

Nucor and other major U.S. steel producers, including Cleveland-Cliffs, Steel Dynamics, and U.S. Steel, have largely supported the tariffs, which they argue level the playing field against foreign competitors. However, economists and financial institutions have warned that broad-based tariffs on imports from China and other countries could have negative consequences for the broader U.S. economy.

Energy and Environment: No Conflict, Says Vance

Accompanied by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, Vance also addressed the administration’s energy policy, declaring that the U.S. had entered a phase of “energy dominance.” “We have started drill, baby, drilling,” Vance said. “It means cheaper gas, and it means an America that is self-reliant.”

Zeldin echoed Vance’s sentiments, stating that federal agencies should be “doing nothing but helping American manufacturing,” and not creating regulatory roadblocks. He highlighted a March deregulatory action by the EPA, which he described as “the largest deregulatory action in the history of the United States of America,” aimed at boosting energy development and supporting domestic manufacturing.

Vance emphasized that there should be “no tension” between environmental protection and industrial growth, asserting that the administration believes it is possible to achieve both.

Political Context and Local Significance

The visit to South Carolina, a state with a strong industrial base and significant political influence, was strategically timed. Trump’s 2016 victory in the state’s first-in-the-South GOP primary helped solidify his status as the party’s frontrunner, and he has maintained strong support there ever since.

Vance was joined on the tour by South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), both of whom are expected to be contenders in the state’s upcoming gubernatorial race. Their presence underscored the political importance of the visit, as well as the administration’s focus on bolstering support in key battleground states.

A Personal Connection

For Vance, the visit to Nucor was more than a policy stop—it was personal. “This is a meaningful stop for me,” he said, referencing his grandfather’s long career in the steel industry. “The man who raised me worked 40 years as a welder at Armco Steel. I know what this work means to families and to communities.”

The vice president’s remarks resonated with many in attendance, particularly those who see the steel industry as a cornerstone of American economic strength and identity.

References

• Vice President JD Vance visits steel plant in South Carolina
• Vance heralds 'industrial renaissance' in his visit to a South Carolina steel plant
• Vance Touts ‘Technology of the Future’ on Display in South Carolina Steel Plant
• Vance in South Carolina: Trump ushering in 'golden age' of U.S. manufacturing
• Trump’s first 100 days: effects on steel industry and what lies ahead
• Vance heralds 'industrial renaissance' in his visit to a South Carolina steel plant