President Trump mistakenly referred to a steel worker's father as dead Thursday after the man offered praise for Trump's newly announced tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

Scott Sauritch, the president of United Steelworkers Union local 2227, spoke at the event about his father who lost his job in the steel industry.

"Your father, Herman, is looking down," Trump said. "He's very proud of you right now."

"Oh, he's still alive," Sauritch replied as he and other steel workers brought to the event in the White House Roosevelt Room chuckled and applauded.

"Then he's even more proud of you," Trump then joked, putting his hand to the side of his mouth.

Sauritch began his remarks by offering thoughts on his father.

"He lost his job due to imports coming into this country," Sauritch said. "I just wanted to tell you, what that does to a man with six kids is devastating. I never forgot that, looking into his eyes in my household [and] what that does to a family."

"When you're actually involved and it impacts you, it'll never leave you," he continued. "With that being said, for Herman Sauritch, your story didn't end. And for all the people I represent at my union, I never want to see it happen again. ... I say that sincerely from my heart."

Sauritch then shook hands with Trump.

Trump announced steep new tariffs Thursday on imported steel and aluminum, defying criticism from his own party and delivering on a key campaign promise.

The tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum temporarily exempt Mexico and Canada, and will be implemented in 15 days.

During his remarks at the event, Trump called the struggles of the domestic steel and aluminum industries a "travesty."

"This has been an assault on our country," he said.