NonilexSep 24, 2025

Of course he does

Exclusive: #Trump wants piece of company in charge of #US’ biggest #lithium #mine

The Trump admin is seeking an equity stake of as much as 10% in #LithiumAmericas as it renegotiates terms of the company's $2.26 billion #Energy Department loan for its #ThackerPass lithium project with #GeneralMotors, two people familiar with the discussions told Reuters.

#law #extortion
https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/trump-administration-seeks-equity-stake-lithium-americas-amid-loan-talks-2025-09-23/

Show threadNonilexSep 24, 2025

The proposed stake is the latest example of the #Trump admin intervening directly in the #US #economy as it has in taking stakes in #Intel, #MPMaterials & other US #tech & #minerals firms to promote industries it sees as critical to *national security* [personal enrichment].

Slated to become the Western Hemisphere's largest source of #lithium when it opens in 2028, the #ThackerPass #mine has been under construction for nearly a year with >600 contractors at the site….

#law #business #extortion

Show threadNonilex

…The $2.93 billion #ThackerPass project was approved by #Trump at the end of his first term. The loan from the Dept of #Energy's Loan Programs Office [LPO] was closed last year by #Biden admin officials.

The loan has a 24-year term, with interest rates based on the #US Treasury rate as each tranche is drawn.

#LithiumAmericas was slated to make its first draw on the loan earlier this month but Trump officials sought to *renegotiate* terms….

#law #business #extortion #MafiaState

Sep 24, 2025 at 2:22amWeb
Show threadNonilexSep 24, 2025

Discussions over the loan's potential reevaluation were first reported by the Washington Free Beacon. The #Trump admin's *request* for an equity stake has not been previously reported.

…The #equity request came during discussions in recent months over the loan's amortization schedule, with #LithiumAmericas proposing to shift when part of the loan's principle would be repaid although not the repayment timeline itself or the total interest the LPO would receive….

#law #extortion #MafiaState