Vice President JD Vance speaks during a visit to Cleveland-Cliffs’ Middletown Works where he highlighted the Trump Administration’s America First economic agenda and new investments in the facility were announced, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
NICK GRAHAM / STAFF
Vice President JD Vance praised Middletown as he spoke at Cleveland-Cliffs Middletown Works steel plant today, highlighting the Trump administration’s “America First” economic agenda.
“This is a great day to be a resident of Middletown,” Vance said.
Vance’s grandfather worked nearly 40 years at Middletown Works, then Armco/AK Steel, as a welder.
His visit comes as Cleveland-Cliffs pursues a $1 billion modernization project at its Middletown Works facility. The proposal includes construction of a cogeneration plant and upgrades to a blast furnace and related material-handling operations.
» Read more about the announcement and project here
The project will be supported by a $500 million U.S. Department of Energy grant, which was originally meant to support a project that would have converted Middletown Works’ energy to hydrogen. It is dependent upon an Ohio Environmental Protection Agency air permit, which the agency continues to review and evaluate the comments received during the public comment period.
Vance relayed a message from President Donald J. Trump to the large crowd of supporters at the plant, “The future of America … is right here in Middletown, Ohio.”
Before speaking at the mill, Vance stopped at Central Pastry Shop in Middletown. After the event, he traveled to Price Hill Chili in Cincinnati, where he served beer and Cincinnati-style chili dogs to patrons.
Crowd attends to see Vance, hear about project
The doors to the event at the Middletown plant opened at 10 a.m.
“There is no great power, no great nation, without industrial might,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright at the event.
Local resident Samantha Black was at the event Friday morning and said she expected to hear about the economics of the plant, and she is “excited to see JD Vance and be in the same room” as the vice president.
“I watched a lot of his TED Talks when I was in college, and I think it’d be nice to full-circle see him in person,” Black said. “We don’t do much in this small town and to have a vice president from here is pretty cool.”
Early arrivals line up to get on shuttle bus Friday, Aug. 21, 2026 to take them to the site at Cleveland Cliffs for Vance visit.
Nick Graham – Photojournalist
As of 10:30 a.m. Friday there was a long line of Vance supporters waiting to get inside the event. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, and U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Troy, were there along with Middletown Mayor Elizabeth Slamka, Middletown City Manager Ashley Combs, Middletown Assistant Director of Community and Economic Development Jacob Schulte and Middletown City Schools Superintendent Elgin Card.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine arrives at Cleveland-Cliffs Middletown Works ahead of a modernization announcement from Cleveland-Cliffs and the Department of Energy Friday morning, Aug. 21, 2026. Vice President JD Vance is expected to speak.
Eric Schwartzberg/Staff
Vance supporter and local resident David Caudill told this news outlet he was there because he likes Vance and Trump.
“I’d like to see Trump re-run or Vance, one,” said Caudill, who was wearing a T-shirt that said “1st Amendment Defines Us, 2nd Amendment Protects Us.”
Middletown Resident David Caudill attends an event at Cleveland-Cliffs Middletown Works on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026 where Vice President JD Vance was set to appear and make remarks.
Bryn Dippold
“I like the home boy,” he said of having a native of Middletown in the White House.
Trenton resident James Ewen said he and his sister, who are both Trump supporters, turned out to root on Vance.
“It’s exciting” that Vance is back in town, Ewen told this news outlet. “He loves the donuts here, he’ll be talking about that.”
Ewen said he saw Vance last time he was in Middletown, speaking at the high school during the presidential campaign of 2024. He said he hopes Vance will share positive news about the economy and address what’s happening in Iran.
There are some protestors at today’s event in Middletown and they have signs against pollution. Those protesting are at the Cliffs entrance on Lefferson Road.
Protestors are seen at the Cliffs entrance on Lefferson Road in Middletown. Most have signs against pollution. They are there as Cleveland-Cliffs and the Department of Energy announce a project focused on Cliffs infrastructure modernization.
Eric Schwartzberg
Mike Oles, of Indianapolis, told this news outlet their coalition, Mighty Earth, protested at the event “because JD Vance is in his hometown making an announcement of the future of the steel mill, and we’re pretty sure he’s going to be talking about investing money that was given during the previous administration.”
“It’s missing the bigger story here … is that this plant has a chance to become one of the leading clean steel mills here in the United States that would create new jobs and reduce pollution and improve people’s quality of life. Instead what we’re getting is a backward-thinking plan that is going to create less jobs, make the plant less competitive and create more pollution,” Oles said.
Middletown resident Donna Ballinger was also with the protestors, and said she believes folks in the area have health problems because of the pollution from Middletown Works.
“I want for greener, cleaner air for everyone in this community,” she said. “Please do the right thing,” she said with a message pointed at the Trump administration regarding changes to the plant’s blast furnace. “Do better, you can do better.”
Mighty Earth sent a news release on Friday with more from Ballinger:
“Almost every day my home and property, as well as my neighbors, are bombarded by fallout, noise and toxic emissions,” said Ballinger, who lives 800 feet from the plant. “Cleveland-Cliffs and JD Vance need to get rid of coal and go back to the original project that would clean up the air we breathe and improve our health. Extending the life of the coal furnace will continue to harm me, my family and my neighbors.”
Modernization project
Cliffs officials have said the project would rebuild and modernize the facility’s iron-making process. The steel mill traces its roots to 1900, when it opened as The American Rolling Mill Company, commonly known as Armco.
According to Cleveland-Cliffs, the modernization project could create up to 1,500 jobs, including many positions for local union building trades workers during construction.
The project’s future, however, remains dependent on regulatory approval. An Ohio Environmental Protection Agency air permit required for the work remains under review, according to an Ohio EPA spokesperson.
If approved by the Ohio EPA as submitted by Cleveland-Cliffs, an air permit will allow installation of a cogeneration plant to generate steam and electricity for use at the facility, as well as various changes to a blast furnace and associated material-handling operations. Nick Graham / staff
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Vance’s presence at the announcement Friday is his first public appearance in Middletown since July 2024, when he attended a campaign rally at Middletown High School shortly after being selected as President Donald Trump’s running mate. Vance, who was raised in Middletown, currently resides in Cincinnati’s Walnut Hills neighborhood.
Regional traffic
Roads and sidewalks near Vance’s home in Cincinnati’s East Walnut Hills neighborhood will be closed from Thursday afternoon through Sunday afternoon, according to a city news release.
The following closures will be in effect:
William Howard Taft Road between 1905 William Howard Taft Road and East McMillan Street.
Collins Avenue between William Howard Taft Road and the underside of the U.S. 50/Columbia Parkway overpass.
Taft Road Lane and Heatherhill Lane.
Westbound Riverside Drive between the Leblond Recreation Center and Collins Avenue because of ongoing construction.
Motorists are encouraged to use Torrence Parkway, Madison Road and Woodburn Avenue as alternate routes while the closures remain in place.
Butler County Commissioner TC Rogers is at Middletown Works on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026 ahead of Vice President JD Vance speaking there regarding a modernization project announcement by the Department of Energy and Cleveland-Cliffs.
Nick Graham
Sen. Bernie Moreno attends a project announcement event at Middletown Works on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. Cleveland-Cliffs and the Department of Energy are hosting the event where Vice President JD Vance will speak.
Nick Graham