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Under Trump, Uncle Sam is becoming an active investor at a scale not seen outside war or major crises
CNBCยท 2025-07-26 11:29
Group 1 - The Trump administration is engaging in direct investments in companies, a practice not commonly seen in the U.S. outside of wartime or economic crises, indicating a shift towards state intervention in industries deemed crucial for national security [1] - Japan's Nippon Steel has granted President Trump a "golden share" in U.S. Steel, allowing him significant veto power over major business decisions of the company, which is the third-largest steel producer in the U.S. [2] - The golden share arrangement is likened to nationalization without the typical benefits of government investment, highlighting a unique form of state influence over private enterprise [3] Group 2 - The Department of Defense has made a $400 million equity investment in MP Materials, a rare-earth miner, making it the largest shareholder, which marks an unprecedented level of federal support for a mining company [4] - This investment is described as the largest public-private cooperation in the U.S. mining industry, with the DOD historically not engaging in equity investments in mining projects [5] - Trump's influence allows for a level of corporate intervention that would be politically challenging for a Democratic president, expanding the scope of state intervention in markets [6]