The U.S. government last year took a minority stake in Vancouver-based Lithium Americas, a corporation jointly developing the Thacker Pass project, one of the world’s largest lithium mines. It also acquired a 5% stake in the mine itself. This direct state intervention to secure critical resources for private capital underscores the true function of government in the current economic order.
President Donald Trump, speaking in Las Vegas on Wednesday, promoted the mine to a crowd more than 500 miles away from the site. He claimed, "Many people in this audience are going to be working there, and you are working there." Trump did not mention the government’s direct financial stake in the project, but shortly after, he issued warnings about the "dangers of communism."
Capital's Agenda, Workers' Burden
Trump's visit to the Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa saw him expound on his economic policies, including tax cuts on tips. Tom Port, a 36-year-old professional driver, expressed relief, stating, "That’s about the best thing he could have possibly done for me, considering a large portion of my income comes directly from tips." Such concessions offer minor relief while the systemic underpayment of labor persists.
Terilyn Taylor, 60, a teacher in Las Vegas, voiced concerns about the rising cost of living. She noted that home prices, interest rates, and gas prices remain too high, adding, "I don't think it's all Trump's fault." Taylor also expressed a desire for the "Iran war" to end, linking it to increased energy costs. "I thought the gas prices would be temporary, so I'm really ready for the Iran thing to be resolved," she said.
Trump’s trade policies have also impacted working people. His tariffs, which ignited a trade war with Canada, have been accompanied by insults, with Trump calling Canada "nasty." Las Vegas' tourism-dependent economy has suffered, with the city’s mayor reporting a slump in visits from Canada, Nevada’s largest international market.
Official data contradicts Trump's claims of booming exports. The U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Tuesday that American exports in June fell 0.9% to $314.7 billion. On a three-month moving average, exports are also down. While exports have increased 11.7% so far this year, this rise is largely attributed to increased exports of gold, oil, and other energy products, whose prices have surged due to the ongoing Iran war.
The State's Role in Protecting Wealth
Trump also honored Officer Austin Abdelnabi, 30, a U.S. Marine veteran, who was killed in the line of duty 2 days ago. Trump declared, "Austin died a hero, and he will never be forgotten." He then thanked "every law enforcement officer here today" and blessed the "men and women of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. And frankly, all of law enforcement." This praise for the state's enforcers came after a man in the crowd booed Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, who had referenced Abdelnabi.
The expansion of the military-industrial complex also featured in Trump's remarks. He spoke of "building this big military complex" that includes "a lot of different things, and some of the things I can't even talk about." Senate Republicans previously attempted to secure $1 billion in funding for White House security and military improvements for this project, which Trump insists will have "strategic value" and include "drone ports." This demonstrates the continuous funneling of public funds into instruments of state power and capital projection.
Trump also attacked Michigan's Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, labeling him a "communist" and claiming he "hates" Jewish people. El-Sayed, who would be the first Muslim senator, has called for ending U.S. military aid to Israel. El-Sayed rejected the accusations, stating, "My commitment to Jewish safety is the same commitment to the safety of my own daughters." Such rhetoric serves to demonize any challenge to Western foreign policy, which primarily serves capital accumulation abroad.
Near the end of his speech, Trump reiterated his claim that oil prices will fall once the Iran war is over. He added a new, ominous note, saying, "And we may have to send it up again." He did not clarify what he meant, but the statement reveals the deliberate manipulation of global energy markets for profit, often at the expense of working people.
Trump also revived a health care plan, announced 7 months ago, centered on sending money directly to Americans for health savings accounts. This proposal shifts the burden of healthcare costs onto individuals, rather than addressing the systemic profiteering of the healthcare industry.