Nevada, the Silver State, has long been a land of opportunity, from its gold rushes to its glittering casinos. But under President Donald J. Trump’s second term, Nevada’s been dealt a royal flush in the high-stakes game of critical minerals. With a laser focus on securing America’s supply chain and reducing reliance on foreign adversaries like China, Trump’s policies are turning Nevada’s dusty hills into a jackpot of lithium, antimony, and other minerals vital for electric vehicles (EVs), defense systems, and the tech-driven future. Companies like Lithium Americas and Surge Battery Metals are poised to cash in big, while others, like Military Metals with its promising antimony asset in Nevada, are also joining the game. Let’s dive into how Trump’s vision—amplified by his Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s bold podcast proclamations—is making Nevada the epicenter of America’s mineral renaissance.
Trump’s Ace in the Hole: Nevada’s Lithium Boom
Nevada’s lithium deposits are the crown jewel of its critical minerals portfolio, and Trump’s administration is all-in on making them a cornerstone of national security and economic dominance. In March 2025, Trump signed an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to turbocharge domestic mineral production, explicitly targeting reliance on China, which controls 59% of global lithium processing. The order prioritizes mining on federal lands and streamlines permitting, a move that’s music to the ears of Nevada’s miners. As Trump declared, “It is imperative for our national security that the United States take immediate action to facilitate domestic mineral production to the maximum possible extent.”
Enter Lithium Americas, the heavyweight champ of Nevada’s lithium scene. Its Thacker Pass project, approved by Trump’s administration in its final days in 2021, is a $4 billion behemoth set to produce enough lithium to power over 800,000 EVs annually. The company’s CEO, Jonathan Evans, didn’t mince words about its significance: “Thacker Pass is critical for establishing a strong domestic lithium supply chain required to support a low-carbon economy.” With a $2.26 billion conditional loan from the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, Lithium Americas is already breaking ground, proving that Trump’s early bet on the project was a winning hand. A spokesperson for the company noted, “We’re pleased that our project was supported by the Trump and Biden administrations. They both have expressed the importance of Thacker Pass in securing a domestic supply of critical minerals.”
Not to be outdone, Surge Battery Metals is playing its cards right with the Nevada North Lithium Project (NNLP), boasting some of the highest-grade lithium clay deposits in the world, with grades up to 8,190 ppm. The company’s CEO, Greg Reimer, exuded confidence in a recent statement: “NNLP stands out as a top-tier lithium clay deposit with high grades, optimal geometry, and surface exposure… advancing at an unmatched pace.” Surge’s inferred resource of 11.24 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent at 3,010 ppm is a game-changer, and the Bureau of Land Management’s March 2025 approval for expanded exploration—allowing 250 acres of drilling and infrastructure—has sent its stock soaring 11.4%. Surge’s commitment to sustainable sourcing aligns with Trump’s “Made in America” mantra, positioning it as a key player in the EV supply chain.
The Wild Card: Other Critical Minerals and Military Metals
While lithium steals the spotlight, Nevada’s mineral wealth runs deeper. The state’s antimony, gold, and rare earths are also critical for defense and tech. Military Metals, for instance, holds a strategic antimony asset in Nevada, positioning it to capitalize on the growing demand for this critical mineral used in munitions and flame retardants. But the real story is how Trump’s broader strategy is lifting all boats. His executive order also calls for stockpiling deep-sea metals and fast-tracking domestic processing, ensuring Nevada’s miners aren’t just digging dirt but building a resilient supply chain.
Howard Lutnick’s Trump Card: The Podcast Play
No Trump-themed article would be complete without a nod to his inner circle’s showmanship, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick delivered a masterclass on the Squawk Box podcast in early 2025. Lutnick, who stepped down as CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald (a major investor in Greenland’s critical minerals via Critical Metals), laid out Trump’s vision with characteristic bravado: “We’re going to create a domestic supply chain that’s the envy of the world. China’s had its run, but America’s back, and Nevada’s leading the charge.” His comments underscored Trump’s tariff probe on critical mineral imports, launched in April 2025 under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which aims to shield U.S. producers from China’s market flooding. Lutnick’s role as a dealmaker—coupled with his ties to defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Boeing—signals that Nevada’s minerals are about to become a geopolitical trump card.
Why Nevada’s Holding All the Aces
Trump’s policies are a full house for Nevada: deregulation, federal funding, and a hawkish stance on China. The state’s lithium alone could meet domestic battery demand by 2030, according to Argonne National Laboratory, but only if projects like Thacker Pass and NNLP keep their momentum. Add to that the $21 million Nevada Tech Hub grant from the Department of Commerce, aimed at building a full lithium supply chain from extraction to recycling, and it’s clear Nevada’s not just playing the game—it’s rewriting the rules.
Yet, it’s not all smooth sailing. Environmentalists and low lithium prices (thanks to China’s oversupply) pose challenges. But Trump’s tariffs and focus on national security are rallying industry leaders. As Ucore Rare Metals’ CEO stated, supporting Trump’s order, “This underscores the urgent need to establish robust, domestic rare earth processing capabilities.” Surge’s Reimer echoed the sentiment: “We’re poised to meet the surging demand for ‘Made in America’ battery metals through sustainable, responsible sourcing.”
The Final Bet: Nevada’s Golden Era
Trump’s vision, as he proclaimed in 2025, is that “The golden era of America is now underway.” For Nevada, that era is shining brighter than a Vegas marquee. With Lithium Americas and Surge Battery Metals leading the charge, and players like Military Metals in the mix, the state’s critical minerals are a royal flush in Trump’s America-First strategy. As Lutnick put it, “America’s back,” and Nevada’s holding the winning hand. So, ante up, because the Silver State’s mineral boom is just getting started.
Sources:
- The New Republic, “Trump’s Critical-Minerals Obsession Is Leading to Some Weird Places,” 2025-03-25
- Reuters, “Wary of Trump, US minerals projects rush to close government loans,” 2024-08-29
- Surge Battery Metals, “Surge Battery Metals,” 2025-01-04
- The White House, “FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Takes Further Action to Strengthen and Secure Critical Mineral Supply Chains,” 2024-09-20
- Mugglehead Investment Magazine, “The pursuit for critical minerals: A Mugglehead roundup,” 2025-04-17
- Las Vegas Review-Journal, “Nevada lithium mine, OK’d by Trump, may boost Biden’s energy plan,” 2021-01-23
- NPR, “Trump’s election makes the future of what could become a giant lithium mine unclear,” 2024-11-19
- Reuters, “Trump orders tariff probe on all US critical mineral imports,” 2025-04-16
- MINING.COM, “Surge Battery approved for expanded exploration at Nevada lithium project,” 2025-03-05
- Investing News, “Trump Signs Executive Order to Boost US Critical Minerals Production and Reduce Reliance on China,” 2025-03-24
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