Core Insights - TMC the Metals Company (TMC) shares increased by 8.6% following a significant deal between the Pentagon and another mining company, amidst a general rise in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite indices [1] Group 1: Government Involvement in Rare Earths - The Trump administration is considering federal investment in domestic rare earth mining due to the U.S.'s heavy reliance on foreign sources, particularly China, for critical defense materials [2] - MP Materials, the only operational rare earth mine in the U.S., announced a $400 million investment from the Department of Defense (DoD), making the DoD the largest shareholder [3] Group 2: Market Reactions and Speculations - The announcement of the DoD's investment has positively impacted shares of rare earth and critical mineral mining companies, with expectations of further deals from the Trump administration [5] - TMC is speculated to potentially benefit from similar government deals, although this remains uncertain [5][6]