Trump Orders Alaska Critical-Minerals Push, Citing 57 of 60 Key Resources Against China
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 31
Trump Orders Alaska Critical-Minerals Push, Citing 57 of 60 Key Resources Against China
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 31
Summary
Trump said his executive order is meant to unlock Alaska’s mineral base, arguing secure domestic supplies are essential to US technology, jobs and defense.
Alaska holds 57 of the 60 minerals the administration deems most critical, including rare earths and graphite used in batteries, electronics and military systems.
Graphite Creek could supply all US graphite demand for 100 years, Trump said, making the project a centerpiece of his bid to cut reliance on foreign supply chains.
$150 million in Biden-era support for a graphite facility in Mozambique became a foil in Trump’s case after the plant shut down, which he cast as proof US policy pushed production overseas.
China’s past use of critical minerals as trade leverage underpins the order’s broader goal: turning Alaska resource development into a national-security counterweight to Beijing.