Right-wing media jumped to defend four recent executive orders signed by President Donald Trump to bolster the dying coal industry, telling viewers that reviving what they often incorrectly called “clean coal” would make the country more competitive with China and allow the U.S. to dominate the AI “arms race” by ensuring an abundant supply of reliable energy. Conservative outlets are also framing Trump as an ally to coal miners — even as the administration eliminates trusted resources to protect their health and safety.

Trump made it easier for companies to mine in more places with fewer environmental protections and prolonged the lives of coal plants set to be decommissioned

On April 8, Trump “signed a series of executive orders aimed at boosting the struggling coal industry, a reliable but polluting energy source that’s long been in decline.” The Associated Press: “Under the four orders, Trump uses his emergency authority to allow some older coal-fired power plants set for retirement to keep producing electricity to meet rising U.S. power demand amid growth in data centers, artificial intelligence and electric cars. Trump also directed federal agencies to identify coal resources on federal lands, lift barriers to coal mining and prioritize coal leasing on U.S. lands. In a related action, Trump also signed a proclamation offering coal-fired power plants a two-year exemption from federal requirements to reduce emissions of toxic chemicals such as mercury, arsenic and benzene.” [The Associated Press, 4/8/25]