RARE EARTHS AREN’T RARE—CHINA OWNS THE REFINING, NOT THE MINES
Elon’s right: rare earth minerals are found all over the world—including in the U.S.—but China controls over 85% of global refining. That’s the chokehold.
The problem isn’t digging the stuff up. It’s turning it into… https://t.co/oeFM3FkYeF pic.twitter.com/Q98JTWqrP8
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 13, 2025
Rare earths are not rare. They’re in fact quite common. The ones that we use the most are as common as copper or lead, and in fact you can find them on every continent, and on the ocean floor, and they’re also in our technologies around us.
Elon’s right: rare earth minerals are found all over the world—including in the U.S.—but China controls over 85% of global refining. That’s the chokehold.
The problem isn’t digging the stuff up. It’s turning it into magnets for EVs, missiles, and wind turbines. Even U.S.-mined material often gets sent to China for processing.
Until America rebuilds its heavy industry, it will stay dependent. The minerals are here—but the power is still there.
