Donald Trump Jr. and Zach Witkoff of World Liberty Financial at Token2049, a major crypto conference, in Singapore on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
watchman
Republicans on the House Natural Resources subcommittee blocked a Democratic motion to subpoena Donald Trump Jr., President Donald Trump’s eldest son, over his support of critical minerals companies.
President Trump’s administration is trying to rapidly ramp up critical minerals production at U.S. Vulcan Elements, a rare earth magnet maker backed by Trump Jr. 1789 capitalreceived $620 million federal loan Last year from the Defense Department.
Democrats on the panel sought to subpoena the younger Trump to testify on the Vulcan deal. The hearing, called by the majority Republicans on the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, was titled “Unleashing America’s Mineral Potential: The Critical Mineral Commodity Supply Chain.”
“We’re done waiting for Republicans to fulfill their responsibility of oversight,” Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Ore., the top Democrat on the subcommittee, said when she introduced the motion for the subpoena. “Donald Trump Jr. must answer whether the president’s son illegally profited from his father’s presidency.”
Dexter also subpoenaed Patrick Witt from the Pentagon’s Strategic Capital Office. Following publication of this story, CNBC was told by the committee that Dexter incorrectly named Vulcan Materials CEO Ronnie Pruitt. They intended to serve a subpoena to John Maslin, the CEO of Vulcan Elements, the company that supports Donald Trump Jr.
Trump’s family business ties have been heavily scrutinized during his second administration, particularly the investment activity of his sons, Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. Democrats have warned that he will benefit financially from the companies he is supporting and receiving lucrative contracts from the government his father ran.
Republican subcommittee Chairman Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., sent the committee into recess for about an hour shortly after the resolution. Upon his return, Gosar moved a motion for summons. The motion was introduced by a 5-2 vote. Republicans control the subcommittee 5-3.
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., immediately moved to adjourn the subcommittee hearing after introducing the resolution.
Natural Resources Committee ranking member Jared Huffman, D-Calif., warned that the issue “is not going away.”
“You can take these steps, but you can’t hide, you can’t avoid accountability,” Huffman said.
After this the subcommittee adjourned by a vote of 5-2.