President Trump participates in an event on coal at the White House — 2/11/2026

Welcoming Coal Miners and Celebrating American Riches [00:53]

• The event honors men and women in the coal industry, referring to them as the "undisputed champion of beautiful clean coal."
• Coal is credited with lighting cities, heating homes, fueling factories, and turning natural resources into "American riches and dreams."
• The speaker notes that coal miners have been mistreated but assures them of his support.
• The stock market has hit historic highs, with 401ks performing well, and the country is described as "back" and the "hottest country anywhere in the world."

"We love clean, beautiful call, don't we, Doug?"

Addressing the Coal Industry and Key Figures [02:51]

• Secretary Doug Bergam is thanked for his work in the "great coal mining state of North Dakota."
• Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldon are acknowledged for their efforts, with Zeldon highlighted for speeding up approvals.
• Several senators and representatives are recognized for their support of the coal industry.
• Michael Day, president of the Washington Coal Club, and Richard Nolan, CEO of the National Mining Association, are thanked, along with other business leaders.

"EPA Administrator Lee Zeldon. He's our secret weapon. He's getting those approvals done in record setting time."

Economic Impact on Coal Miners [04:45]

• In the first year of the presidency, real wages for the typical miner increased by more than $2,200.
• This is the first wage increase for miners in over 27 years, contrasting with previous administrations.
• An executive order was signed to ensure "America's beautiful clean coal plants would keep running 24 hours a day."
• The Biden administration is criticized for shutting down dozens of coal plants, leading to potential mass suffering and rolling blackouts.

"Those other presidents didn't take good care of you. They didn't take good care of you at all. They didn't realize what they had."

Coal's Reliability During Winter Storms [06:23]

• Coal is highlighted as the energy source that kept the power on during winter storms when solar and wind power collapsed.
• Coal generation surged 31% during these storms, while solar and wind "totally collapsed."
• Windmills are criticized as being made in China, expensive, and generally "losers" that lose money.
• Europe's reliance on wind turbines is depicted negatively, with them being described as "not recognizable" and losing fortunes.

"Coal generation surged 31% while solar and wind totally collapsed."

Saving Coal Plants and Approving Mining Permits [08:28]

• The "war on coal" was ended, and the "Green New Scam" was terminated.
• The Paris climate accord was exited, with the previous administration paying $1 trillion.
• 74 coal power plants have been saved from closure.
• The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is taking action to save two major coal plants in Tennessee: the Cumberland Fossil Plant and the Kingston Fossil Plant, saving over 450 jobs.
• The Department of Energy is directed to issue funds to coal plants in West Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, and Kentucky.
• In one year, over 70 permits for new, large coal mining projects have been approved, a stark contrast to the previous four years where not a single permit was approved.

"The plants are the Cumberland Fossil Plant and the Cumberland City. It's uh in Cumberland City. It's uh a big beautiful thing that they just wanted to shut down."

Coal Production Growth and Energy Dominance [11:39]

• Coal production has increased by nearly 4 million tons a month after falling for decades.
• Coal power generation is up by nearly 15% in the first year and is projected to be 25-30% higher in the coming year.
• Energy prices are being brought down, with gasoline prices falling to under $2 a gallon in some areas.
• Coal is described as one of the lowest-priced and most reliable energy sources, requiring no subsidies and making money.
• The US is now the number one energy producer in the world and is becoming a massive energy exporter, with historic trade deals made for coal exports.

"Coal is one of the lowest price energy sources and it's probably considered by almost everybody to be the most reliable."

Personal Testimony from a Coal Miner [13:35]

• Kayla Blackford, a haul truck driver at a mine in Indiana, shares her experience and pride in her job.
• Her job supports her family, community, and keeps electricity affordable.
• She emphasizes the need for America to generate more electricity as demand increases and lives become more electrified.
• The lifting of policies that made the future uncertain for coal miners has brought renewed optimism.
• Keeping coal plants running means families can stay in their communities and raise their children.

"We are real, real people under these hard hats. On behalf of America's coal miners, thank you, Mr. President, for recognizing the value of coal and the value of the people who power this industry every day."

Coal's Role in National Security and Future Technologies [16:17]

• Coal is critical to national security, vital for steel production, shipbuilding, and artificial intelligence.
• New techniques are making coal use environmentally amazing.
• An executive order will direct the Department of War to work with coal plants on new power purchasing agreements to ensure a more reliable and resilient grid.
• The military will begin buying significant amounts of coal, which is expected to be less expensive and more effective.
• February 11th, Thomas Edison's birthday, is noted as a day to honor the man who lit the world.

"And again, with the environmental progress that's been made on coal, it's going to be just as clean."

American Energy Dominance and Trade [17:35]

• The commitment to American energy independence and dominance is reaffirmed.
• The US is now the number one energy producer in the world, by far.
• Soon, the US will be double the energy production of the second-leading country.
• In just the past few months, historic trade deals have been made with Japan, Korea, and India to dramatically increase coal exports.
• The quality of American coal is considered the finest in the world.
• Tariffs are mentioned as a tool that has helped reduce the trade deficit significantly (78% reduction).
• The S&P has broken 7,000 and the Dow has broken 50,000, with these numbers being achieved much earlier than projected.

"We're going to be dominant and we are dominant right now."

Industry Gratitude and Future Potential of Coal [22:21]

• Representatives of the coal mining industry express deep gratitude for the actions taken to support their sector.
• The US has more energy in its coal than any other nation has in a single energy source, surpassing Russia's gas and Saudi Arabia's oil.
• Previous presidents were afraid to allow coal to keep electricity abundant and low-cost, but this changed with the current administration.
• Coal plants directed to stay open provided stability during a recent winter storm.
• There is potential to build new coal fuel power plants and for coal to emerge as a source of rare earth elements and critical minerals.
• Mining towns are experiencing new investment, optimism, and restored pride due to the policies supporting the industry.

"The US has more energy in its coal than any nation has in any single energy source."

Award Presentation and Closing Remarks [24:06]

• An award is presented, with the trophy stating "The undisputed champion of beautiful clean coal."
• The speaker acknowledges that miners were treated very badly but are now treated well.
• The importance of not using auto-pens for signatures is humorously mentioned.
• The event concludes with continued applause and music.

"The undisputed champion of beautiful clean. Thank you."