February 18, 2026 - More than 1,000 coal mining jobs have disappeared in West Virginia since President Donald Trump returned to office, a blow that state Democratic leaders say contradicts promises to revive the industry.

According to the West Virginia Democratic Party, which cited public reports, 1,062 mining jobs have been cut statewide. The losses include the closure of the Mountain View Mine in Tucker County, seven mining operations in southern West Virginia, and additional shutdowns in McDowell County and other parts of the southern coalfields.

The job reductions come as Trump has promoted policies he says will strengthen the coal industry. During a White House event attended by coal executives and industry supporters, the president was presented with a ceremonial title praising his support for “clean coal.”

State Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin said the contrast between that event and the ongoing layoffs has frustrated miners and their families.

“We were promised a coal comeback and lower costs for working families,” Pushkin said. “Instead, more than a thousand coal jobs are gone, and families are paying more at the grocery store, more for health insurance and more on their utility bills.”

Democratic officials argue that Trump’s tariff policies are harming West Virginia coal producers by shrinking access to overseas markets. Metallurgical coal, a key product mined in the state and used in steelmaking, is largely exported.

Nick Messenger of the Ohio River Valley Institute has said tariffs and retaliatory trade measures make U.S. coal more expensive and less competitive abroad, limiting the number of countries willing to purchase it.

“That’s especially damaging for metallurgical coal, which relies on export markets,” Messenger said.

Trump signed an executive order last year aimed at boosting domestic coal production. Democrats contend that such measures will have limited impact if trade disputes continue to restrict export opportunities.

Republican leaders in West Virginia have defended the president’s broader economic strategy, arguing it is designed to protect American industries and workers. Democrats, however, say the continuing decline in coal employment and rising household costs tell a different story.

The state Democratic Party said the losses underscore the need for what it calls more practical economic policies focused on stabilizing jobs and supporting working families.