The Second Gold Rush or the Last Gasp? What Trump’s “American Birthright” Really Means

EDITOR'S NOTES

Jim Rickards’ recent piece, “American Birthright: Phase II Update,” lays out Trump’s latest move to tap into America’s buried treasure—$150 trillion in minerals sitting beneath federal lands. He sees it as an “America First” renaissance. And yeah, I agree—on the surface, it smells like opportunity. But let’s not start waving flags and popping champagne just yet. There’s more to this than executive orders and patriotic soundbites. When the state opens the vault, you better ask: Who holds the keys? And what do they plan to do when it’s empty?

Derek Wolfe Sep 22, 25

Let’s cut through the red, white, and blue fluff.

Trump’s push to “unlock” federal lands for mining and resource development is being sold like some New American Dream: wealth for the masses, debt reduction, a sovereign wealth fund, and a rebirth of industry. Sounds great, right?

But here’s the thing—this isn’t some populist jackpot where every American gets a pickaxe and a paycheck. No, this is the government rearranging its deathbed finances by auctioning off what’s left of the family jewels. And they’re handing them over to the same cartel of private interests who already sold you out during the last thirty years of globalization.

The Big Lie: “We The People” Own the Land

Yeah, technically those mineral-rich federal lands belong to the American people. But let me ask you this: When’s the last time you profited from something Uncle Sam “owned”? The reality is, the state guards its assets like a dragon hoarding gold—until it’s politically convenient to sell them to its corporate handlers. That's what this is: a fire sale dressed in red, white, and blue.

They’ll tell you it’s about “freedom from China.” But don’t forget: it was U.S. policymakers—both red and blue—who offshored America’s industrial base in the first place. Now that the empire’s running on fumes and the fiat dollar is on life support, they’re pawning off the last real assets America has.

Deregulation Ain’t Liberty—It’s a Looting Strategy

Don’t get me wrong—I’m all for tearing down bureaucracy and unleashing private enterprise. But deregulation under the state’s terms doesn’t mean freedom. It means the gatekeepers have simply changed the rules to let their friends inside the vault.

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” strips out environmental hurdles, not because the state suddenly respects your property rights—but because it wants to move fast. Real fast. Why? Because the U.S. dollar is losing relevance globally, the BRICS nations are accelerating de-dollarization, and Washington’s debt machine is on the verge of implosion. They need hard assets—and they need them now.

Sovereign Wealth Fund or Bailout Slush Fund?

The idea of a U.S. “sovereign wealth fund” sounds noble until you realize it’s being created by a government $37.5 trillion in the red. You can’t have a wealth fund when you’re flat broke—you have a liquidation fund. This isn’t about building prosperity; it’s about buying time.

What happens when the minerals run dry? What happens when foreign wars or digital currencies (hello, FedNow) squeeze every last drop out of the average citizen’s wallet? I’ll tell you what happens: total control. First they nationalize, then they digitize, then they tokenize your existence.

Lithium Boom or Digital Chains?

You’re going to hear a lot about lithium, nickel, and cobalt—how they’ll “power the future.” But who controls the end products? The very companies aligned with the technocratic push toward Central Bank Digital Currencies, mass surveillance, and AI-controlled infrastructure. Your precious metals might be a hedge—but the grid they’re building with your minerals? That’s the cage.

And don’t forget the environmental wild card. When this all goes sideways—and it will—they’ll blame the free market, roll in the ESG mandates, and hand the rest over to BlackRock and the UN. That’s the playbook.

So what’s the move?

If you’re smart, you’ll play both sides.
Stack physical gold and silver.
Get exposure to American miners while they’re still allowed to operate outside the ESG straitjacket.
And most importantly—get your money out of the system before they flip the switch.

Because once they digitize the dollar, your wealth is no longer yours. You’ll own nothing. And no, you won’t be happy.

Call to Action:
Want to know how to protect yourself before the next financial shockwave hits?
Download “Seven Steps to Protect Yourself from Bank Failure” by Bill Brocius — your survival guide in this era of controlled collapse.
👉 Download Now

Stay armed with knowledge. Stay dangerous.
– Derek Wolfe