Venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya , a prominent figure in tech and finance, has found himself at the center of a social media storm following a recent X post highlighting his involvement in the rare earth industry.
The post, shared by a user on April 5, 2025, sparked a wave of trolling and criticism, with some accusing Palihapitiya of profiting from the escalating US-China trade war while others mocked his perceived hypocrisy.
Palihapitiya, the founder of Social Capital and a former Facebook executive, has long been a polarizing figure in Silicon Valley. Born in Sri Lanka and raised in Canada, he gained prominence for his role in scaling Facebook’s early growth before launching Social Capital, a venture fund that backed companies like Slack and Box.
More recently, Palihapitiya has shifted focus toward strategic sectors like climate science, biotechnology, and critical minerals, including rare earth elements (REEs) vital for tech and defense industries. His investment in MP Materials , the operator of the Mountain Pass mine in California—the only active rare earth mine in the US—has drawn significant attention, especially as US-China tensions over REEs intensify.
The X post that ignited the controversy featured a screenshot of Palihapitiya’s own post, where he stated, “Keep calm. Carry on. This may be a good moment to let everyone know that I control one of (if not the) largest rare earth supplies outside of China.
At full capacity it is 25% of what the world needs.”
The post also cited another user, @pitetdesi, who noted that China controls 75% of global rare earth production, underscoring the strategic importance of Palihapitiya’s stake in the remaining 25%, largely located in the US and allied nations.
The trolling began almost immediately. Some users, like @reidjjackson, called Palihapitiya a “grifter,” accusing him of leveraging the US-China trade war for personal gain.
“Shocking that he has a personal interest in these tariffs. Grifters gonna grift,” Jackson wrote. Others, such as @teroterotero, suggested Palihapitiya’s enthusiasm for trade escalation stemmed from his financial interests, with one user quipping, “I am starting to understand why he is so giddy about an escalating trade war with China.”
Another user, @sudipkvyas, took a more aggressive tone, writing, “We’d love to see you as China’s bitch oh wait you already are,” prompting a sharp retort from @dalibali2.
The backlash appears rooted in a mix of geopolitical frustration and skepticism about Palihapitiya’s motives. Rare earth elements, critical for manufacturing everything from electric vehicle batteries to military equipment, have become a flashpoint in the US-China trade war. China’s dominance—controlling 75% of global production—has alarmed US policymakers, especially after Beijing imposed export restrictions on REEs in response to US tariffs under both the Trump and Biden administrations.
Palihapitiya’s investment in MP Materials, which he helped take public in 2020 through a $200 million deal, positions him as a key player in the US effort to reduce reliance on Chinese REEs. However, critics on X argue that his public statements and investments are self-serving, especially given Social Capital’s broader focus on climate and tech sectors that benefit from REE supply chain shifts.
Palihapitiya has yet to respond directly to the trolling, but his past comments suggest he is unfazed by criticism. In 2017, he sparked debate by warning about the societal harms of social media, despite his role in Facebook’s growth, a stance some called hypocritical. His supporters argue that his investments in rare earths align with national security interests, pointing to MP Materials’ role in producing 15% of the world’s REE concentrate and its plans to expand domestic processing by 2022.
As the US-China trade war continues to escalate—with recent Biden administration tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, solar cells, and batteries reaching as high as 100%—Palihapitiya’s role in the rare earth sector will likely remain under scrutiny. For now, the online trolling reflects a broader unease about the intersection of profit, geopolitics, and strategic resources, with Palihapitiya as a lightning rod for those frustrations.
The post, shared by a user on April 5, 2025, sparked a wave of trolling and criticism, with some accusing Palihapitiya of profiting from the escalating US-China trade war while others mocked his perceived hypocrisy.
Palihapitiya, the founder of Social Capital and a former Facebook executive, has long been a polarizing figure in Silicon Valley. Born in Sri Lanka and raised in Canada, he gained prominence for his role in scaling Facebook’s early growth before launching Social Capital, a venture fund that backed companies like Slack and Box.
We’d rather rely on China 😂 pic.twitter.com/RqYK7KG1HI
— dalibali (@dalibali2) April 5, 2025
More recently, Palihapitiya has shifted focus toward strategic sectors like climate science, biotechnology, and critical minerals, including rare earth elements (REEs) vital for tech and defense industries. His investment in MP Materials , the operator of the Mountain Pass mine in California—the only active rare earth mine in the US—has drawn significant attention, especially as US-China tensions over REEs intensify.
The X post that ignited the controversy featured a screenshot of Palihapitiya’s own post, where he stated, “Keep calm. Carry on. This may be a good moment to let everyone know that I control one of (if not the) largest rare earth supplies outside of China.
At full capacity it is 25% of what the world needs.”
The post also cited another user, @pitetdesi, who noted that China controls 75% of global rare earth production, underscoring the strategic importance of Palihapitiya’s stake in the remaining 25%, largely located in the US and allied nations.
The trolling began almost immediately. Some users, like @reidjjackson, called Palihapitiya a “grifter,” accusing him of leveraging the US-China trade war for personal gain.
“Shocking that he has a personal interest in these tariffs. Grifters gonna grift,” Jackson wrote. Others, such as @teroterotero, suggested Palihapitiya’s enthusiasm for trade escalation stemmed from his financial interests, with one user quipping, “I am starting to understand why he is so giddy about an escalating trade war with China.”
Another user, @sudipkvyas, took a more aggressive tone, writing, “We’d love to see you as China’s bitch oh wait you already are,” prompting a sharp retort from @dalibali2.
The backlash appears rooted in a mix of geopolitical frustration and skepticism about Palihapitiya’s motives. Rare earth elements, critical for manufacturing everything from electric vehicle batteries to military equipment, have become a flashpoint in the US-China trade war. China’s dominance—controlling 75% of global production—has alarmed US policymakers, especially after Beijing imposed export restrictions on REEs in response to US tariffs under both the Trump and Biden administrations.
Palihapitiya’s investment in MP Materials, which he helped take public in 2020 through a $200 million deal, positions him as a key player in the US effort to reduce reliance on Chinese REEs. However, critics on X argue that his public statements and investments are self-serving, especially given Social Capital’s broader focus on climate and tech sectors that benefit from REE supply chain shifts.
Palihapitiya has yet to respond directly to the trolling, but his past comments suggest he is unfazed by criticism. In 2017, he sparked debate by warning about the societal harms of social media, despite his role in Facebook’s growth, a stance some called hypocritical. His supporters argue that his investments in rare earths align with national security interests, pointing to MP Materials’ role in producing 15% of the world’s REE concentrate and its plans to expand domestic processing by 2022.
As the US-China trade war continues to escalate—with recent Biden administration tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, solar cells, and batteries reaching as high as 100%—Palihapitiya’s role in the rare earth sector will likely remain under scrutiny. For now, the online trolling reflects a broader unease about the intersection of profit, geopolitics, and strategic resources, with Palihapitiya as a lightning rod for those frustrations.
You may also like
Best spots to spring into summer with a thrilling hike
Smartphone: If you see these 6 signs on your smartphone, understand that the mobile has been hacked, also know the way to avoid it..
Bukayo Saka drops fresh hint on new Arsenal contract - 'I want to win things'
Kunal Kamra asks BookMyShow not to delist him amid controversy, requests audience data for livelihood
These 3 common mistakes are actually decreasing the value of your property
