The US government has taken equity stakes in publicly traded companies, including Intel and MP Materials. NDZ/STAR MAX/IPx/AP

The Trump administration is investing in publicly traded companies — and it’s sending stocks soaring higher.

Under President Donald Trump, the US government has taken equity stakes in companies including Intel ( INTC ), MP Materials ( MP ), Lithium Americas ( LAC ) and Trilogy Metals ( TMQ ). Investing in public companies is an unusual move that has sparked debate on Wall Street and Capitol Hill about whether the government should be interfering in markets.

Proponents say the equity stakes are a strategic move to support companies in industries that are critical to national security, such as rare earths mining and the production of semiconductor chips.

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