Trump Eyes the Deep Sea for Critical Minerals—But at What Cost?

Former President Donald Trump has made no secret of his obsession with securing critical minerals—key components for clean energy, tech, and defense. From eyeing Greenland to demanding a stake in Ukraine’s resources, he’s always pushed bold, controversial strategies. Now, he’s turning his attention somewhere even more extreme: the ocean floor.

A New Frontier of Risk and Riches

Beneath the ocean’s surface—sometimes over 12,000 feet deep—lie vast deposits of copper, cobalt, nickel, zinc, manganese, and rare earth elements. These minerals are essential for electric vehicles, batteries, and high-tech devices. Despite decades of interest, no commercial deep-sea mining currently exists. That could soon change.

In April, Trump signed an executive order aiming to jumpstart a U.S. deep-sea mining industry. The move instantly reignited one of the world’s most contentious environmental debates.

The Hidden Wealth Beneath the Waves

Deep-sea mining focuses on three types of undersea terrain:

• Polymetallic nodules: Potato-sized rocks rich in metals like copper, cobalt, and nickel, found scattered across the seabed.
• Hydrothermal vents: Underwater chimneys that release mineral-laden water, forming deposits of metals like zinc, copper, and even gold.
• Seamounts: Massive underwater mountains coated in cobalt-rich crusts.

The primary target? A massive stretch of the Pacific known as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, between Hawaii and Mexico. This mineral-rich region spans over 3,000 miles and sits nearly 4 miles below the surface. The UN-backed International Seabed Authority (ISA) has already granted 30 exploration licenses—most in this area.

How Deep-Sea Mining Would Work

The tech is still in development, but proposed methods include:

• Giant robotic machines that roll along the seabed, scooping up nodules and sending them to surface ships through massive pipes.
• Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to scrape and pulverize minerals from vents and seamounts before sending the slurry up to be processed.

Regardless of method, operating in freezing, high-pressure environments thousands of feet down is an engineering nightmare—and a costly one.

Life in the Abyss

Contrary to popular belief, the deep ocean is teeming with life.

According to marine biologist Adrian Glover, it’s one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. Hydrothermal vents are home to incredible creatures like:

• Yeti crabs (nicknamed Hoff crabs for their hairy chests)
• Iron-clad snails
• Six-foot-long tube worms

Even the seemingly barren abyssal plains host sponges, starfish, sea cucumbers, and soft corals. Scientists estimate that 90% of species in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone are still unknown to science.

What’s at Stake?

Experts warn that disturbing these fragile ecosystems could lead to irreversible biodiversity loss. Among the risks:

• Sediment plumes could smother marine life.
• Noise and light pollution from mining could travel hundreds of miles, disrupting whales and dolphins.
• Long-term changes could impact fisheries and food chains across the ocean.

In one study, researchers revisited a seabed strip near Hawaii—last mined in a small-scale test 44 years ago. The machines’ tread marks were still visible. “It looks like the tracks could have been made yesterday,” said Glover, who took part in the study.

Industry vs. Environmentalists

Mining advocates argue the risks are overblown. Gerard Barron, CEO of Canadian firm The Metals Company, insists their technology has a smaller footprint than traditional mining, which often involves deforestation, pollution, and human rights abuses.

“We’re not claiming zero impact,” Barron told CNN, “but it’s a fraction of what we see on land.”

Critics strongly disagree. Greenpeace, BMW, Samsung, and dozens of countries have called for a moratorium on deep-sea mining until more is known. Democratic Rep. Maxine Dexter called it a “high-risk, low-reward gamble.”

Even some scientists question the economics. Operating in such extreme conditions, while mineral prices remain volatile, makes the business case shaky at best.

Trump’s Executive Order: Breaking with Global Norms?

While many nations support international cooperation through the UN’s ISA, Trump’s order signals a go-it-alone approach. It bypasses stalled negotiations and could allow U.S. companies to start mining before global rules are finalized.

That’s raising alarms.

“Authorizing deep-sea mining outside international law is like lighting a match in a room full of dynamite,” warned Greenpeace USA’s Arlo Hemphill. The ISA also slammed the move, calling it a dangerous precedent that could undermine global ocean governance.

So, When Could It Begin?

The timeline is still murky.

Countries can mine in their own waters—Norway briefly approved Arctic seabed mining before pausing it. But international waters are governed by the ISA, which has yet to finalize mining codes despite years of debate.

Still, Trump’s order has opened a legal path for U.S. mining firms. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is now reviewing an application from The Metals Company to mine in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.

Whether the U.S. will truly dive into deep-sea mining—or retreat under mounting pressure—remains to be seen. One thing’s clear: the fight for Earth’s last unexplored frontier is heating up fast.