*

Trump considers allowing Nippon Steel's ( NISTF ) buy of US Steel,

CBS

reports

*

Trump, in White House, says he hasn't changed his mind,

but will

be discussing the deal

*

US Steel shares rise in afternoon trading

(Adds background, comments from White House, no-comments from

US Steel and Nippon Steel ( NISTF ), adds shares, bullet points)

Feb 7 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump is

considering allowing Japan's Nippon Steel ( NISTF ) to complete

its $14.9 billion buyout of US Steel, CBS News reported,

though Trump said Friday he hasn't changed his mind on his

opposition to the deal.

Approval is not definite, and Trump has not made a final

decision, CBS reported, citing sources.

In the Oval Office Friday, Trump said he hadn't changed

his mind. "No, I think we're going to be discussing that today.

No, I haven't and I hear we'll have some pretty good information

on that," Trump said without being specific, after meeting with

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

Were Trump to approve the deal, it would be an about-face of

his view during the 2024 election campaign, when he railed

against the proposed transaction on several occasions.

"I am totally against the once great and powerful U.S. Steel

being bought by a foreign company, in this case Nippon Steel ( NISTF ) of

Japan," Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social in

December. "I will block this deal from happening. Buyer

Beware!!!"

U.S. Steel and Nippon did not immediately respond to

Reuters' requests for comments.

Nippon Steel's ( NISTF ) bid was blocked last month by former

President Joe Biden. On Thursday, Trump met U.S. Steel Chief

Executive David Burritt at the White House as the

struggling steelmaker

has been pushing for a decision on the takeover, which is

opposed by the United Steelworkers union.

The proposed merger became highly politicized ahead of

November's U.S. presidential election, with both Biden and Trump

pledging to kill it. Nippon Steel ( NISTF ) put forth a series of

concessions to try to sway public opinion in

favor of the deal

.

U.S. Steel shares were up 2.6% in afternoon trading

Friday.