Trump rescues coal industry

Coal has fallen below half of U.S. energy source first time ever and will never return. Coal plants close for maintenance but never reopen due to exorbitant cost, environmental concerns and lack of demand, down 40% in last decade. Just 50,000 minors left, from a high of 860,000 in 1923.

In 2016, Hillary told West Virginians the truth. Coal was not coming back but her administration would retrain them for the 21st century economy. Trump said ‘Don’t’ believe lying Hillary’, promising to resuscitate the dying coal industry. Voters there responded giving Trump 69% of their votes.

For three years, eleven months, Trump did nothing to rescue coal. Then with 30 days left Trump ordered up more coal than any president in history to revive the black gold of West Virginia. Alas, it was just virtual Christmas coal that could only be mined in the delusional recesses of Trump’s degenerating mind. It was virtual coal instead of economic relief for the millions suffering the ravages of pandemic recession. For eight months Trump silently egged on his Republican Congressional minions to stall a second desperately needed relief package. He tacitly applauded their refusal to cross the third rail of a trillion dollar relief package, allowing a measly $600 in stimulus checks.

When the Trump endorsed plan passed, he jettisoned both it and his party, demanding they raise the $600 to $2,000 and pay for it by dumping Republican pork like 3 martini lunches.

How did West Virginians respond to Trump’s imaginary bailout of the coal industry? Same 69% vote for Trump to serve them up more virtual coal purchases in 2021.