On Wednesday, February 11, President Donald Trump signed an order aimed at strengthening the coal industry.
At the same event, he was honored by the Washington Coal Club as the “Undisputed Champion of Coal” and was presented with a statuette of a miner.
In his speech, he outlined the benefits of coal. He also criticized wind energy, stating that China manufactures the technology without using it itself.
According to The Guardian, however, China is the world leader in wind and solar energy and has nearly twice as much renewable energy under construction as the rest of the world combined.
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Subsequent reactions
After the speech, video clips were shared on social media.
According to the Daily Beast, both Kamala Harris’s campaign team and the press office of California Governor Gavin Newsom commented on the footage.
They questioned the president’s demeanor. The debate over the working capacity of older politicians has already been a prominent issue in American politics.
The White House rejected the criticism. A spokesperson told the Daily Beast that the president remains energetic and focused on his work.
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This moment sparked debate
According to the Daily Beast, Donald Trump began saying that he was proud to officially designate “the undispuut…,” after which he spoke indistinctly for a few seconds.
He interrupted himself and then said, “When did this come out? Mr. Speaker,” before continuing and completing the phrase as “the undisputed champion of beautiful, clean coal.”
The incident was captured on video and shared on social media shortly afterward.
It was particularly the brief pause and the unclear pronunciation that led to debate and political reactions.
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Sources: Daily Beast, and The Guardian.
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