INTERNACIONAL
Trump’s $12B rare earth plan targets China as experts warn US is ‘one crisis away’
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EXCLUSIVE: Industry experts warn the United States is «one crisis away» from losing access to the rare earth elements that power everything from fighter jets to electric vehicles — a vulnerability President Donald Trump’s new $12 billion «Project Vault» aims to address.
The initiative, backed by $1.67 billion in private seed money and a $10 billion loan from the Export-Import Bank, would create a federally supported stockpile of rare earth elements and other critical minerals. The U.S. currently imports much of those materials from China.
Executives from Graphite One, one of the country’s largest critical mineral developers, told Fox News Digital the effort could mark a turning point in the battle over China’s dominance of global supply chains.
«The Chinese are willing to weaponize access to … semiconductor materials like gallium and uranium,» Graphite One advisor Dan McGroarty said. «Then they turn off the tap and sort things out, give us a one-year reprieve, you know, it’s a leash, and they can yank that leash anytime they want.»
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CEO Anthony Huston compared the concept to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, established after the 1970s oil crisis to safeguard U.S. energy security, arguing that critical minerals now play a similarly vital role in powering modern defense systems, advanced electronics and electric vehicles.
«For years, American businesses have risked running out of critical minerals during market disruptions… Project Vault [will] ensure that American businesses and workers are never harmed by any shortage,» Trump said in his announcement last month.
Graphite One recently made news with its «truly generational» Graphite Creek site in Alaska, which is the U.S.’ largest asset of that particular critical mineral, in Huston’s words.
As of 2024, the U.S. was at least 93% import-dependent on rare earth elements and graphite, according to the International Energy Agency, and remains heavily reliant on foreign suppliers for dozens of other critical minerals.
TRUMP KNOWS GOOD REAL ESTATE — AND HE KNOWS GREENLAND’S VALUE TO NATIONAL SECURITY
«The United States really relies on China and Africa for graphite. China, as we understand, is our adversary,» Huston said.
A buried lede in the Project Vault news, he added, is a little-reported counter-terror aspect.
Huston said some African mineral deposits, including in parts of Mozambique, are located in areas where ISIS-linked groups have operated. By onshoring development of critical minerals, the U.S. will not only work to unseat Chinese dominance but also deal a blow to operations in areas run by people who want to kill us, he argued.
McGroarty added that Project Vault reminds him of the idea of «dual-use technologies» during the Cold War, where computers of the time had technology that could not be exported – but could be used for both manufacturing and nuclear weapons design, for instance.
«On another level, we’re going to have to balance it across 20, 30, 40 different metals, minerals, compounds, and composites, not just oil,» he said.
TRUMP CHALLENGES CARNEY AT DAVOS, ASSERTS CANADA SHOULD BE ‘GRATEFUL’ FOR GOLDEN DOME MISSILE DEFENSE
President Donald Trump, left, and President Xi Jinping, right. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Getty Images)
McGroarty said the U.S. is «one crisis away» from having REEs «cut-off» by adversaries like China.
Huston also spoke of why Project Vault fits the 2020s more than any other time.
In the prior century, there were no cell phones, no EVs and graphite and the like were being used in analog tools like pencils and primitive computers.
The Graphite Creek site supplied materials for World War II-era steel production, a far cry from its potential role in today’s high-tech economy. Huston reiterated that the U.S. needs its own «strategic petroleum reserve» of critical minerals rather than relying on adversarial nations.
«As they say when you’re flying, put the oxygen mask on yourself first before turning to help those around,» he said.
TRUMP SAYS GREENLAND’S DEFENSE IS ‘TWO DOG SLEDS’ AS HE PUSHES FOR US ACQUISITION OF TERRITORY
Asked about any nexus between Project Vault, the Senate’s renewed focus on Arctic national security amid foreign incursions and Trump’s overtures toward Greenland, McGroarty suggested there may be one — but it’s not yet clear.
He quipped that sometimes it’s better to look at the globe from the top rather than the side, which places North America in the center of everything.
«See what nations have a presence in the Arctic, you’ll see the importance of Greenland; you’ll also see that the U.S. is an Arctic nation only because of Alaska,» he said.
Of the 60 critical minerals on the U.S. government’s official list, Alaska has known resources of at least 58, he added.
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«It’s the same sort of thing with Greenland. In the case of Greenland, I think there’s a phrase that I use from time to time: resource denial — That is to say, you might try not to be interested in Greenland’s resource potential in critical minerals. If you wake up one day, and the Chinese and the Russians are engaging in economic relationships in Greenland and directing those metals and minerals into their supply chains, you will have to be concerned about what goes on.»
China-based experts, on the other hand, were dismissive of Project Vault, with rare-earths analyst Wu Chenhui telling the state-owned Global Times that while Trump’s move is novel, it «functions more as a short-term buffer than a fundamental solution,» and other officials in the Communist nation were similarly bearish on the news.
energy,national security,counter terrorism,xi jinping,geopolitics,donald trump,china
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An increasing number of voters disapprove of the job the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, or ICE, is doing, with nearly half wanting Congress to reduce its funding.
That’s according to a new Fox News poll conducted before President Trump announced on Thursday that he will nominate Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., to replace Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem.
The survey finds nearly 6 in 10 voters disapprove of ICE’s performance, while about 4 in 10 approve. This is the highest disapproval rating recorded, up 7 points since last fall and 17 points since the question was first asked in 2018.
Nearly twice as many voters strongly disapprove as strongly approve.
The increase in disapproval can mostly be attributed to voters under age 30 (+17 points more disapproving than in September), independents (+13), men (+11) and Democrats (+8).
«This isn’t a complicated story,» says Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who helps run the Fox News Poll with Democratic counterpart Chris Anderson. «ICE’s tactics in Minneapolis, along with negative news coverage, have caused a sharp drop in approval, especially among independents and members of the out-party.»
Meanwhile, large majorities of MAGA supporters (94% approve), very conservative voters (87% approve) and Republicans (83%) back ICE.
When asked about funding the agency, nearly half (46%) said reduce it. The other half wants to increase funding (20%), keep at current levels (18%) or fund at current levels but with new restrictions (16%).
FOX NEWS POLL: VIEWS ARE DIVIDED ON US ACTION AGAINST IRAN
Majorities of Democrats (77%) and independents (59%) want to defund ICE while Republicans would prefer to at least keep it at its current level (37%) if not increase it (43%).
Today, voters are slightly more likely to feel the Trump administration’s immigration policies have made the U.S. safer (42% safer vs. 37% less safe) than they did last June, when they were split on the matter (39% each). Overall, 2 in 10 say the policies don’t make a difference to safety.
But when looking at immigration from an economic lens, more voters think the administration’s policies are hurting the economy (49%) than helping it (33%). Two in 10 (17%) say they haven’t had an effect on the economy.
Majorities of Republicans are more likely to say the immigration policies have made the U.S. safer (82%) and helped the economy (66%), while it’s the opposite for Democrats (62% less safe, 83% hurt). A majority of independents think the economy is being hurt (57%) but are more divided on safety: 27% safer, 40% less safe, 33% no difference.
Views on what to do about illegal immigration remain nuanced. Two-thirds favor allowing illegal immigrants who have jobs in the U.S. to stay and apply for legal status (67% favor, 33% oppose). On the other hand, 6 in 10 favor deporting immigrants who are here illegally back to their home countries (59% favor, 40% oppose).
Among voters favoring deportation, 53% would support immigrants who live here illegally but have jobs to stay and apply for legal status.
Majorities of Hispanic voters favor allowing illegal immigrants with jobs to stay (74% favor), disagree with deportations (56% oppose) and disapprove of ICE (58%).
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Big picture, border security and immigration remain President Trump’s best issues. Border security continues to be his only net positive job rating with 52% approving and 48% disapproving. While his handling of immigration stands at 47% approve and 53% disapprove, it is a slight improvement since the last recording in January when it was 45-55%.
The president’s ratings on other issues remain underwater: jobs (43% approve, 56% disapprove), taxes (40-59%), foreign policy (40-60%), economy (38-61%), healthcare (38-61%), tariffs (36-63%), and cost of living (32-67%).
Conducted Feb. 28 to March 2, 2026, under the direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News survey includes interviews with a sample of 1,004 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (104) and cellphones (642) or completed the survey online after receiving a text (258). Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education and area variables to ensure the demographics are representative of the registered voter population. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis and voter file data.
politics,immigration,donald trump,homeland security,republicans,democratic party,fox news poll
INTERNACIONAL
Trump echó a la secretaria de Seguridad Nacional de EE.UU., responsable de las redadas contra inmigrantes
El presidente estadounidense, Donald Trump, anunció este jueves que destituyó a la secretaria de Seguridad Nacional Kristi Noem.
La funcionaria tenía a su cargo la polémica política migratoria a través de las redadas contra indocumentados en todo el país.
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Trump anunció que Noem dejará el cargo a partir del 31 de marzo. La sustituirá el senador de Oklahoma Markwayne Mullin, mientras la agencia permanece cerrada por falta de fondos.
El mandatario republicano hizo el anuncio en redes sociales, dos días después que Noem enfrentara un duro interrogatorio en el Capitolio por parte de miembros del Partido Republicano, así como de legisladores demócratas.
El futuro de Kristi Noem
Trump anunció además que designará a Noem como “Enviada Especial para el Escudo de las Americas”, una nueva iniciativa de seguridad que, afirmó, se centrará en el hemisferio occidental.
Noem es la primera secretaria del gabinete en dejar el cargo durante el segundo mandato de Trump. Su salida pone fin a un periodo turbulento al frente de tácticas de control migratorio que fueron recibidas con protestas y demandas, con manifestantes y disturbios en grandes ciudades como Los Angeles. Donald Trump destituyó a Kristi Noem (Foto: REUTERS/Kylie Cooper)
El año pasado, Estados Unidos afirmó haber deportado a unos 600.000 inmigrantes sin papeles. Sin embargo, durante la gestión de Noem se sucedieron las denuncias de arrestos y expulsiones de migrantes con documentación provisoria.
Según afirmaron, eran esperados en los juzgados migratorios por agentes especiales para ser detenidos, procesados y expulsados. Esta política de persecución contra las comunidades migrantes, en especial la latina, desató una ola de pánico entre los extranjeros.
Las fuerzas del Servicio de Control de Inmigración y Aduanas (ICE) patrullaron comunidades hispanas, realizaron allanamientos en lugares de trabajo, en iglesias y hasta en las puertas de escuelas, lo que provocó airadas protestas de la comunidad latina.
Además, la figura de Noem quedó en medio de una fuerte controversia tras los tiroteos fatales de agentes del ICE en el que murieron dos ciudadanos estadounidenses.
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Según la prensa local, Trump habría tomado su decisión tras las audiencias de Noem en el Congreso, durante las cuales se vio en aprietos por la adjudicación de un importante contrato público. Entonces fue duramente cuestionada por senadores demócratas y también por el republicano Thom Tillis, que pidió su dimisión y recordó el polémico episodio de su libro en el que Noem relataba cómo había matado a su perra y a una cabra.
El departamento de Seguridad Nacional se encuentra parcialmente cerrado por falta de fondos desde el 14 de febrero a la espera de que demócratas y republicanos acuerden cambios en los procesos operativos de las redadas migratorias que desatasquen la aprobación de la partida presupuestaria.
Al margen de las controvertidas redadas, la presión sobre Noem fue aumentando en los últimos días frente a una polémica y agresiva campaña para publicitar la labor de su departamento adjudicada el año pasado. Se conoció que su cartera abanderó una “emergencia” fronteriza para justificar la concesión, sin licitación previa, de la campaña, valorada en unos 220 millones de dólares, a una entidad controlada por el marido de la exportavoz del propio de la secretaría de Seguridad, Tricia McLaughlin.
Qué dijo Donald Trump
En un extenso mensaje en su red Truth Social, Trump afirmó: “Me complace anunciar que el muy respetado senador estadounidense del gran estado de Oklahoma, Markwayne Mullin, asumirá el cargo de Secretario de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) de Estados Unidos a partir del 31 de marzo de 2026″.
“La actual secretaria, Kristi Noem, quien nos ha servido eficazmente y ha obtenido numerosos y espectaculares resultados (¡especialmente en la frontera!), pasará a ser Enviada Especial para el Escudo de las Américas, nuestra nueva Iniciativa de Seguridad en el Hemisferio Occidental que anunciaremos el sábado en Doral, Florida», indicó.
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Además, señaló: “Agradezco a Kristi su servicio. Tras 10 años en la Cámara de Representantes de Estados Unidos y 3 en el Senado, Markwayne ha realizado una labor excepcional representando al maravilloso pueblo de Oklahoma, donde gané en 77 de los 77 condados en 2016, 2020 y 2024″.
“Un guerrero MAGA y ex luchador profesional invicto de MMA (Artes Marciales Kixtas), Markwayne se lleva muy bien con la gente y posee la sabiduría y el coraje necesarios para impulsar nuestra agenda de ‘América Primero’. Como el único nativo americano en el Senado, Markwayne es un defensor excepcional de nuestras increíbles comunidades tribales”, prosiguió.
En el final de su posteo, dijo: “Markwayne trabajará incansablemente para mantener nuestra frontera segura, detener la delincuencia migratoria, los asesinos y otros delincuentes que ingresan ilegalmente a nuestro país, acabar con el flagelo de las drogas ilegales y hacer que Estados Unidos vuelva a ser seguro. Markwayne será un excelente Secretario de Seguridad Nacional. ¡Gracias por su atención!“.
(Con información de AFP, EFE y AP)
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