President Donald Trump expressed support for Union Pacific's proposed $72 billion acquisition of rival Norfolk Southern, which is still awaiting regulatory approval. Union Pacific Chief Executive Officer Jim Vena discussed the merger with Trump and senior administration officials earlier in September, highlighting how the company is engaging at the highest levels of the U.S. government as it seeks regulatory approval. If allowed to proceed, it would create the country’s first continuous transcontinental railroad by connecting Union Pacific’s network in Western U.S. states with Norfolk Southern’s tracks along the East Coast. U.S. rules require rail mergers to show that a deal would serve the public interest and enhance competition, a step beyond merger requirements applied to other industries. The companies aim to complete the deal by early 2027.