In a controversial move, President Trump announced a $700 million federal investment to support the struggling coal industry, which has been in decline for decades. During a briefing at the Oval Office, Trump emphasized the importance of 'clean, beautiful coal' and described the initiative as a 'historic action' to lower energy prices. The funding, sourced from the 1950 Defense Production Act, will be used to upgrade 13 existing coal plants and construct two new ones in Alaska and West Virginia, the first new coal plants in the U.S. since 2013. This initiative has faced significant backlash from environmental experts who argue that it prioritizes the interests of coal billionaires while jeopardizing public health and the environment. Critics point out that the coal industry is unlikely to recover, citing the closure of 330 coal plants since 2010 and the projected shutdown of 60 more by 2031. Despite these concerns, Trump claims the initiative will create 14,000 new jobs, asserting that coal remains a viable business.