Elon Musk and Donald Trump are big fans of Argentina’s populist President Javier Milei.
Trump and Milei have publicly praised each other, with the US President offering support to his Argentine counterpart, while Musk and “anarcho-capitalist” Milei initially wooed each other on social media, exchanging affectionate posts and sharing photos from their in-person meetings.
At the heart of this bromance lie Argentina’s large reserves of lithium, the mineral known as “white gold”.
Lithium is powering the world’s energy transition, and multinational mining firms are descending on Argentina’s remote salt flats to supply companies like Tesla.
But what about the people who have lived in the region for generations, who now fear that lithium mining is exhausting their water supply?
From South America’s Lithium Triangle to the halls of power in Washington, DC, from the Indigenous Peoples of Catamarca to Elon Musk, Donald Trump and Javier Milei, White Gold tracks the human impact of the green transition.
Screenings and information for distributors
The film will be screened globally in 2026. Check back here for information on future screenings.
If you’re a broadcaster interested in showing the film, please contact our distributor, Sideways Film.
For general enquiries about the film, please email [email protected]
The people behind this film
Our deepest appreciation to the community of Antofagasta de la Sierra for their trust and collaboration.
We are grateful to Asamblea Pucará and FARN for their support in making this film, and would like to acknowledge their tireless work on this issue over many years.
Thank you to all of Global Witness’ funders and donors for their generous support.
Directed by: Dominic Streeter
Produced by: Hide & Seek