Trump Honors Coal Industry With New Award as Administration Pushes Energy Shift

Following his latest coal industry support, President Donald Trump received another honor this week. Trump signed an executive order instructing the Department of Defense to utilize more coal-burning power plant electricity during a White House energy policy event.

The order directs Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Energy Secretary Chris Wright to negotiate long-term coal facility contracts nationwide. The administration wants steady power for military installations and federal functions. Event officials claimed the move is part of a larger push to boost America’s “energy independence.” Trump has consistently called it that.

The president announced $175 million in Department of Energy financing to upgrade six coal-fired plants in Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, and West Virginia in addition to the Pentagon mandate. Administration officials said the investment would modernize energy facilities for nearby communities and industries.

At the ceremony, coal workers and executives applauded the announcement. Peabody Energy president and CEO Jim Grech presented Trump with the inaugural “Undisputed Champion of Coal” award on behalf of the nonprofit Washington Coal Club, which promotes coal. The prize called the president the “undisputed champion of beautiful clean coal,” noting his industry-friendly measures.

Following his prize presentation, Trump said it was “great to bring it back,” alluding to coal production and use. He informed workers that his administration is supporting them after years of harsh treatment.

Trump’s campaign has focused on energy policy. His prior criticisms of climate change projects included “hoax” and “con job.” His administration has rolled back Obama-era environmental rules. The Environmental Protection Agency’s 2009 “endangerment finding” that six greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare is under review. Administration officials aim to withdraw or revise renewable energy regulations related to that conclusion.

After years of decline owing to environmental laws, natural gas rivalry, and renewable energy expansion, the coal industry welcomed the administration’s measures. Supporters say coal is a reliable and economical electrical source for industry and defense.

This is Trump’s second inaugural-style prize in recent months. He called receiving the first FIFA Peace Prize in December “one of the great honors of my life.” After the U.S. military operation in Venezuela captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado awarded him a 2025 Nobel Peace Prize medal. Trump’s leadership in peace through strength and diplomacy was recognized in the framed award. The official Nobel Committee says Nobel Prizes cannot be canceled, shared, or transferred and that its judgments are final.

Trump has also received the Israel Prize, Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor, Order of the Nile, and South Korean Grand Order of Mugunghwa.

This White House event shows how energy and industrial policy impact the administration’s agenda. By mandating government agencies to use more coal-based power and investing in plant renovations, the president is committing to rebuilding a once-dominant energy industry.

Sources

The White House
U.S. Department of Defense
U.S. Department of Energy
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Official statements released during the White House energy event
Nobel Prize Committee official statement on prize policies