U.S. President Donald Trump stirred controversy on Tuesday during a campaign-style economic address in Pennsylvania, asserting that he personally ended conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda and that both nations asked the United States to “come and take our minerals.”
“I ended the war between the Congo and Rwanda. They told me, ‘Please, please, we would like you to come and take our minerals.’ Which we’ll do,” Trump said on December 9, 2025, drawing loud reactions from the audience.
His claim immediately prompted debate online, with critics accusing him of misrepresenting U.S. diplomatic involvement in the region, while supporters praised the comment as evidence of his foreign-policy assertiveness.
Analysts warned that Trump’s remarks about “taking” minerals could inflame sensitivities in a region historically shaped by extractive foreign involvement. Policy observers also noted that the U.S. government has not announced any new mineral-access agreements with either country.
Trump’s Pennsylvania speech was intended to focus on inflation, trade and domestic manufacturing, but the Africa comments quickly became one of the most discussed moments of the event.
Whether his claim reflects a formal policy position, an informal conversation with African leaders, or campaign rhetoric remains unclear.
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