Trump Honoured as 'Undisputed Champion of Beautiful Clean Coal' in White House Event
Donald Trump was ceremoniously crowned the "undisputed champion of beautiful clean coal" during a White House gathering on Wednesday, where he accepted a bronze trophy after directing the US Department of Defense to procure billions of dollars' worth of power from coal plants. The award was presented by the Washington Coal Club, an advocacy organisation with financial connections to the coal sector, marking a significant moment in the administration's ongoing efforts to bolster the industry.
Industry Leaders Express Gratitude for Presidential Support
James Grech, the Chief Executive Officer of Peabody Energy, the largest coal company in the United States, handed Trump the trophy, which depicts a coalminer equipped with a headlamp and pick. Grech addressed the president, stating, "We stand here today representing the thousands of coalminers across the country to express our deep gratitude to you, sir, for the actions you've taken to support our industry." The ceremony was attended by more than a dozen coal executives and miners, alongside several Republican lawmakers and cabinet members, including Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, both known as staunch advocates for coal.
Executive Order Mandates Military Purchase of Coal Energy
The event coincided with Trump's signing of an executive order that requires the defense department to secure long-term power purchase agreements with coal plants for military installations and other mission-critical facilities. Trump announced at the gathering, "We're going to be buying a lot of coal through the military now. Under our leadership, we're becoming a massive energy exporter. We're lifting up our hard-working American miners like nobody has ever done before." Additionally, Trump revealed that the Department of Energy would allocate $175 million in funding to six projects aimed at modernising, retrofitting, and extending the lifespan of coal-fired power plants serving rural and remote communities in West Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, and Kentucky.
Broader Context of Coal Industry Revival Efforts
This executive order represents the latest initiative in the administration's campaign to revive the US coal industry. In September, the White House disclosed plans to open 13.1 million acres of public land to coal mining and provide $625 million for coal-fired power plants. Despite these efforts, coal, recognised as the most polluting and costly fossil fuel, has experienced a sharp decline in the United States over the past three decades. According to the Energy Information Administration, US coal production in 2023 was less than half of its 2008 level, and coal plants generated only about 15% of US electricity in 2024, down from approximately 50% in 2000.
Series of Awards and Gifts to Trump During Second Term
The coal industry award adds to a growing collection of honours and gifts that Trump has received from various quarters since the commencement of his second term. In December, FIFA president Gianni Infantino presented Trump with the newly established "FIFA peace prize," while in November, a group of Swiss billionaires gifted him a gold Rolex desk clock and a $130,000 engraved gold bar, after which Trump agreed to reduce tariffs on Switzerland. Over the summer, Apple CEO Tim Cook gave Trump an engraved glass disk statue with a base made from 24-karat gold, followed by the White House granting Apple an exemption from a 100% tariff on semiconductors.
