Trump Trade: U.S. seeks equity stake in Lithium Americas in loan talks

Catch up on the top industries and stocks that were impacted, or were predicted to be impacted, by the comments, actions and policies of President Donald Trump with this daily recap compiled by The Fly:

EQUITY STAKE: After having taken stakes in Intel (INTC) and MP Materials (MP) to promote industries it sees as critical to national security, the Trump administration is seeking an equity stake of as much as 10% in Lithium Americas (LAC) as it renegotiates terms of the company’s $2.26B Energy Department loan for its Thacker Pass lithium project with General Motors (GM), people familiar with the discussions told Reuters. GM, which invested $625M, holds a 38% stake in the Nevada project, the report noted.

JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE: President Donald Trump said via Truth Social, “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled! Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there. Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE. He is yet another arm of the DNC and, to the best of my knowledge, that would be a major Illegal Campaign Contribution. I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars. This one sounds even more lucrative. A true bunch of losers! Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad Ratings.”

This comes after Nexstar Media Group (NXST) announced that the company’s owned and partner television stations affiliated with the ABC Television Network (DIS) will continue to preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” stating, “We made a decision last week to preempt ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ following what ABC referred to as Mr. Kimmel’s ‘ill-timed and insensitive’ comments at a critical time in our national discourse. We stand by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve. In the meantime, we note that ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ will be available nationwide on multiple Disney-owned streaming products, while our stations will focus on continuing to produce local news and other programming relevant to their respective markets.”

Sinclair Broadcast (SBGI) also said it planned to preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on its ABC affiliates when the show returns to air on Tuesday, but notes discussions with the network are ongoing, Ted Johnson of Deadline reports. The company plans to replace the broadcast with news programming. Earlier this week, ABC announced Kimmel’s return following backlash arguing The Walt Disney Company was capitulating to the Trump administration.

UKRAINE WAR: President Donald Trump stated in a Truth Social post, “After getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine/Russia Military and Economic situation and, after seeing the Economic trouble it is causing Russia, I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form. With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original Borders from where this War started, is very much an option. Why not? Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years a War that should have taken a Real Military Power less than a week to win. This is not distinguishing Russia. In fact, it is very much making them look like “a paper tiger.” When the people living in Moscow, and all of the Great Cities, Towns, and Districts all throughout Russia, find out what is really going on with this War, the fact that it’s almost impossible for them to get Gasoline through the long lines that are being formed, and all of the other things that are taking place in their War Economy, where most of their money is being spent on fighting Ukraine, which has Great Spirit, and only getting better, Ukraine would be able to take back their Country in its original form and, who knows, maybe even go further than that! Putin and Russia are in BIG Economic trouble, and this is the time for Ukraine to act. In any event, I wish both Countries well. We will continue to supply weapons to NATO for NATO to do what they want with them.”