Nippon Steel's announcement to sue the US government over Biden's US Steel acquisition block dominated morning coverage. US Steel's CEO called Biden's action "shameful," claiming it benefits China, while US labor unions expressed support. Media coverage shifted from initial shock to analytical pieces examining the contradiction between the decision and US "de-China" policy.
Return holiday traffic intensified, with both bullet trains and domestic flights reaching capacity. Aomori prefecture declared its triple-normal snowfall a disaster, while opposition parties rejected coalition possibilities ahead of summer elections.
Coverage maintained focus on the political implications of Biden's steel decision, with analysts suggesting Trump-era labor politics played a key role. By evening, attention turned to potential breach penalties Nippon Steel might face if the acquisition fails.