Nippon Steel “is going to be doing something very exciting about U.S. Steel,” Trump said at a news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, according to the Associated Press.  “They’ll be looking at an investment rather than a purchase.”

“It was unclear what the details of the investment would be, but Trump said he would meet with the head of Nippon Steel next week and he would be involved ‘to mediate and arbitrate,’” the AP reported. 

Earlier in the day, CBS News, citing several unidentified sources, said Trump might be changing his thinking around the planned acquisition. Trump previously had said he would oppose a U. S. Steel-Nippon Steel merger. 

The news of potential changes to the deal comes as a fresh objection to the acquisition has emerged. On Wednesday, a group of 16 steel users sued to stop the merger, arguing that it would reduce competition and cause prices to rise, according to the Reuters news service. 

The consumers are direct and indirect purchasers of steel-related products, Reuters said. 

You can read more about the lawsuit here.