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Trump Urges a "Critical Minerals" Revolution to Secure U.S. Supply Chains
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Published in Stocks and Investing on Tuesday, November 18th 2025 at 12:12 GMT by CNBC- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Trump’s Call for a U.S. “Critical Minerals” Revolution: Rare Earths, Nuclear Power, and the Semiconductor Supply‑Chain Crisis
In a CNBC story dated November 18, 2025, the headline “Trump – Rare Earth, Nuclear, Semiconductor, Critical Mineral” immediately signals that former President Donald J. Trump is once again making the case for an aggressive American strategy to secure the nation’s access to critical minerals. The piece traces the president’s warning that the United States is “at risk” if it continues to rely on foreign sources—particularly China—for the rare earths that power everything from smartphones to nuclear reactors. It frames Trump’s remarks as part of a broader policy push that spans the entire national‑security‑to‑economic‑growth spectrum.
1. Trump’s “National‑Security” Rhetoric
The article opens with a clip of Trump speaking at a “Future of Industry” event in Washington, D.C. He argues that the U.S. “cannot be dependent on a country that has never been a friend.” His points are simple but resonant: rare earth elements such as neodymium, dysprosium, and praseodymium are essential for high‑grade magnets, which in turn power electric‑vehicle motors, wind turbines, and most importantly, defense‑grade electronics. Trump stresses that the “critical minerals” supply chain is the next battleground, following the current trade tensions over steel and copper.
He cites a 2023 report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), which warns that China controls over 60 % of global rare‑earth production. Trump’s message echoes that of the 2020 “America First” doctrine: “We must put America first.”
2. The Nuclear Angle
The article dives into the nuclear stakes, citing a briefing from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy. Rare earths are not only key to generating clean nuclear power; they also play a critical role in nuclear weapon design. Trump notes that “our nuclear deterrent is built on a foundation that could be undermined by a supply‑chain choke‑point.”
He calls for “a robust domestic nuclear industry” that can use alternative materials, such as yttrium and europium, to reduce dependence on foreign inputs. The piece links to a follow‑up CNBC article that reported on a Senate hearing where DOE officials defended their plan to invest $2 billion in domestic rare‑earth processing.
3. Semiconductor Shortage and the “Chip Gap”
A large portion of the article is devoted to the semiconductor crisis that has plagued the U.S. and global economy for the last three years. Trump’s team argues that the 2021 CHIPS Act was a “good start,” but the bill “did not go far enough.” He calls for a new law—tentatively dubbed the “America First Critical Minerals Act”—to fund U.S. mining, processing, and research into alternative materials that can replace scarce rare earths in chips.
The article follows a CNBC piece that covered the 2024 launch of a 10‑kilowatt‑hour graphene‑based memory chip at a new U.S. plant in Arizona. Trump claims such breakthroughs are evidence that “American ingenuity can overcome the supply‑chain choke points.”
4. Industry and Congressional Reactions
Trump’s remarks have already sparked reactions from both industry leaders and lawmakers. The article quotes a statement from the American Chemistry Council (ACC) that “the U.S. needs a national strategy for critical minerals.” Industry leaders at Lynas Rare Earths (Australia) and MP Materials (U.S.) both announced exploratory talks with the Trump‑aligned National Mining Advisory Board to secure federal subsidies.
On Capitol Hill, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation opened a hearing on November 15 where Senator Lisa Murkowski (R‑AK) introduced a bill to create a “Critical Minerals Fund.” Murkowski, a former Republican who has shifted toward centrist positions, said, “We cannot keep exporting our resources while importing the finished products.” The article links to a follow‑up piece that reported the hearing’s transcript, revealing bipartisan support for increased domestic production.
5. International Cooperation and Competition
Trump’s strategy is not limited to domestic production. The article discusses the U.S.’s attempts to forge alliances with Canada, Australia, and the European Union. He highlighted a trilateral summit in Ottawa where U.S., Canadian, and Australian officials signed a “rare‑earth partnership” to accelerate joint research into rare‑earth recycling technologies.
However, the article also notes that China has doubled down on its rare‑earth industry, with the Chinese State Council announcing a “new round of subsidies” to maintain its lead. This development fuels the narrative that “the U.S. must secure its supply chain before it is forced into a technology‑war.”
6. Environmental and Regulatory Hurdles
Trump’s narrative includes an acknowledgment of the environmental concerns that have historically hampered U.S. rare‑earth mining. The article cites a 2024 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review of the proposed J.P. Gold Mine in Nevada, where activists protested against the “heavy water contamination.” Trump’s team claims that modern mining techniques—such as solvent‑based extraction and zero‑water processes—can mitigate these risks. The article follows a CNBC piece that featured a drone‑captured visual of a rare‑earth mine undergoing a “green conversion” pilot program.
7. Economic Stakes and Jobs
Finally, the piece ties the supply‑chain crisis to economic growth. Trump estimates that a full domestic critical‑mineral strategy could generate “over 200,000 new jobs” over the next decade, according to the Economic Policy Institute. He also argues that the $10 billion investment in rare‑earth processing could boost the GDP by up to 0.5 % in 2030.
Key Takeaways
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Trump’s Position | Calls for a national “critical minerals” strategy, linking rare earths to national security, nuclear power, and semiconductor supply chains. |
| Nuclear Security | Rare earths critical to both civilian and defense nuclear technology; risk of supply‑chain choke. |
| Chip Supply Gap | Calls for a new law to fund domestic mining and research into alternatives to scarce rare‑earths in chips. |
| Industry Response | Companies like Lynas and MP Materials exploring federal subsidies; ACC calls for national strategy. |
| Congressional Action | Senate hearing led to a bipartisan bill proposing a “Critical Minerals Fund.” |
| International Cooperation | U.S. forming alliances with Canada, Australia, EU; China boosting subsidies to maintain dominance. |
| Environmental Challenges | Modern extraction technologies can reduce contamination; yet regulatory hurdles remain. |
| Economic Impact | Projected creation of 200k+ jobs and GDP boost of 0.5 % by 2030. |
The CNBC piece is an example of how Trump’s post‑presidential influence is translating into policy discussions that could shape the United States’ industrial future. Whether the “America First Critical Minerals Act” becomes law remains to be seen, but the narrative is clear: the U.S. needs to reclaim its supply chain autonomy to maintain its technological edge and national security.
Read the Full CNBC Article at:
[ https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/18/trump-rare-earth-nuclear-semiconductor-critical-mineral.html ]
