WASHINGTON, Feb 6 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on

Thursday met U.S. Steel Chief Executive David Buritt at

the White House as the struggling steelmaker has been pushing

for a decision on its long sought tie-up with Japan's Nippon

Steel ( NISTF ) .

A proposed $14.9 billion merger between the two companies

was blocked last month by former President Joe Biden.

Trump has also opposed the deal but has welcomed Japanese

investment in the technology sector. He will meet Friday with

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the White House.

Last year, Trump said "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."

However, Nippon Steel ( NISTF ) said on Thursday that its bid fits

with Trump's goal of a stronger U.S. as the leaders of the two

allies prepared to meet.

"We are convinced that our acquisition plan is the best

proposal for U.S. Steel, and I hope that the (Japanese Prime

Minister Shigeru) Ishiba-Trump meeting will convey that to Trump

and open the way for a deal," Takahiro Mori, Nippon Steel's ( NISTF ) vice

chairman, told reporters on Thursday.

Meta's Mark Zuckerberg and FedEx ( FDX ) Executive Chairman and

Founder Frederick Smith were also at the White House for

meetings on Thursday. It remained unclear if they met Trump.