What Michael Jordan can teach America about energy dominance

President Trump is right—America needs “energy dominance.” We should be using our massive energy resources to enrich our country and strengthen our position in the world. 

But true dominance means beating everyone, not just a subset of the world. Michael Jordan wasn't basketball's most dominant player because he eliminated Charles Barkley from two straight semifinals; he dominated by winning championships. Whether in the NBA Finals or playing quarters with security guards at the United Center, Jordan treated every competition like his life depended on it. America is not approaching energy this way.

The Trump administration wants more oil drilling in the Arctic and more liquefied natural gas exports abroad. But, while the United States vies for the fossil fuel championship, China is winning a more crucial title: They control 60% of the world's wind turbine market, over 70% of advanced batteries, and 90% of the solar power supply chain – projected to be the world's largest energy source by the 2040s. Meanwhile, global demand for oil and gas is flat or dropping. 

If America wants to be truly energy dominant, then we cannot forfeit the clean energy competition to China any more than Jordan would’ve gone home after dominating the Philadelphia 76ers. 

A good case study is the electric vehicle (EV) market, which includes pure EVs. 

China owns the global EV market. The country is the world’s largest auto exporter—and the biggest exporter of electric vehicles by far. They have over 100 EV brands including BYD, which are Tesla look-a-likes at bargain basement prices—roughly $12,000 compared to Tesla's $40,000 sticker price. America's counterstrategy is simple: slap heavy tariffs on Chinese auto imports to keep them out of the U.S. 

China is flooding the global market with three times more EV batteries than demand requires and selling their cars at artificially low prices. So, tariffs are justified here. But we can't win with tariffs alone. Even if no American ever buys a Chinese electric vehicle, China’s auto industry will still dominate. 

Picture yourself as part of the new middle class in India or Nigeria, buying your first car. Are you choosing a $37,000 Ford F-150 that gets 18 miles per gallon and comes with pollution taxes? Or are you going for the $12,000 BYD? It's not even close. 

President Trump mentioned EVs last week in his inaugural address. He said he’d save the auto industry by revoking the EV mandate, letting people “buy the car of [their] choice.” If he’s telling the truth, that’s a problem. Outside the U.S., nobody is going to choose our cars.

The best way for the American auto industry to beat China's is not by keeping BYDs off the streets of Nebraska and Florida. It's keeping them off the streets in Sydney and New Delhi—because Indians and Australians are driving electric Fords and GMs instead. In fifteen years, EVs will represent 7 of every 10 cars sold. If current trends continue, most will be from China. But, if America wins EVs, then we win the auto industry. 

History tells us that countries that try to wall off the world—that try to achieve economic dominance by competing only on their own court—are doomed to fail. Japan in the 19th century and the Soviet Union in the 20th both learned what America in the 21st may soon discover: economic isolation leads to decline. At that point, China won't laugh at our auto industry. They'll do something worse—they won't think about us at all. And as Jordan put it, "We should take that personally."

While filming Space Jam in 1995, Jordan worked twelve-hour days on set in Los Angeles. But even then, he knew he needed to tune up for the regular season. He didn't just call the USC varsity team to practice with him, or even his teammates on the Bulls. Instead, Jordan flew in Patrick Ewing, Dennis Rodman, Reggie Miller—all the best players in the world. The result? Another three-peat. 

Basketball isn't just another sport—it's a uniquely American crucible of competition. To play serious ball, you have to step onto courts—sometimes in tough neighborhoods—ready to take some elbows and throw some back. Jordan knew this: Greatness doesn't come from avoiding your competition. It comes from seeking it out—whether you're playing pickup, chasing rings, or leading the free world. That's a lesson our president doesn't seem to understand: We can't win if we're afraid to play.