CHARLESTON, WV – As Donald Trump addresses a Joint Session of Congress on Mar 4th night, the West Virginia Democratic Party is calling out his failed leadership and broken promises to West Virginians. Trump campaigned here in 2016 with a prop shovel, claiming he would revive the coal industry. But in 2025, that same shovel is being used to dig the grave for West Virginia’s energy economy.

“When Trump campaigned here during his first campaign, he brought a prop shovel to illustrate how he ‘digs’ coal,” said West Virginia Democratic Party Vice Chair Teresa Toriseva. “Little did we know he would return in 2025 and use that shovel to dig the grave for West Virginia’s energy economy.”

The evidence is clear. Trump’s reckless policies are costing West Virginians their jobs:

• Over 165 coal miners were laid off earlier this year, a devastating blow to families who depended on those paychecks.

• The $7 billion hydrogen hub project has stalled in West Virginia thanks to Trump's spending freeze, putting more high-paying energy jobs at risk.

• Trump’s trade war is driving down demand for West Virginia’s metallurgical coal, which is critical for steelmaking. That has already cost at least 165 miners at Leer South Mine in Barbour County their jobs.

• The Trump tariffs are driving down the stock market and threatening the retirement security of millions of Americans.  

“The 165 coal mining jobs lost are a result of the Trump tariffs which are a direct attack on metallurgical coal. China has now chosen to purchase their coal from Australia, not West Virginia. As a result, the metallurgical coal market is now in jeopardy and so are the jobs of our hardworking coal miners,” said House Minority Whip Shawn Fluharty. 

Trump’s attacks on working families don’t stop there. His administration is allowing Elon Musk to lay off West Virginia workers at the U.S. Treasury Department, gutting good-paying government jobs right here at home. The other 20,000 federal employees who live in West Virginia are now wondering if their jobs are next on the chopping block.

“Trump talks a big game about standing up for West Virginians, but the truth is, he’s costing us jobs,” added Toriseva. “Coal miners, energy workers, and even federal employees are all worse off because of him. West Virginia deserves better than a president who sells false hope while delivering pink slips.”

As Trump takes the stage on Mar 4th night, West Virginians should remember: he promised jobs, but all he’s delivered are layoffs, lost opportunities, and economic hardship.