China rivalry ‘no excuse’: US Democrats allege corruption in Trump’s mining deals
US Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday accused the Donald Trump administration of using the critical minerals contest with China as an excuse for corruption – alleging billions of dollars in deals were enriching the president’s family and friends. “Competition with China is no excuse for abandoning safeguards that prevent taxpayer funds from being misused for private enrichment,” said Linda…
US Democratic lawmakers have accused the Trump administration of using competition with China as an excuse for corruption in critical mining deals, alleging billions of dollars in contracts enriched the president's family and friends. At a Ways and Means Committee hearing, lawmakers expressed concerns over a lack of transparency and favoritism in awarding mining contracts, citing multiple agreements and potential conflicts of interest.
The Trump administration has invested billions in domestic and overseas mining projects, seeking to break China's dominance in the processing of critical minerals, which are vital for military systems, semiconductor manufacturing, and robotics. While industry leaders welcome the investments for national security reasons, concerns about transparency and favoritism persist.
Democratic lawmakers emphasized the need for public disclosure of terms, ownership, financing, and government guarantees to avoid corrupt practices.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
