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CHARLESTON -- President Donald Trump said he is all in for Attorney General Patrick Morrisey's campaign to unseat U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin in the November general election.
He is also all in on coal, after his administration announced the government was doing away with the Obama-era Clean Power Plan.
Trump traveled to the Charleston Civic Center Tuesday evening under a cloud of breaking news regarding convictions and plea deals involving former Trump associates.
This was the president's sixth visit to West Virginia and his second trip to Charleston since the 2016 presidential campaign.
The rally, planned by Trump's 2020 re-election campaign, brought in thousands of supporters from the state and the region. Trump is traveling across the country to rally support around candidates who can keep congressional control in Republican hands.
Trump made it clear that he needed Morrisey to keep moving his agenda forward in Congress.
"He's got energy and a lot of talent," Trump said. "A vote for Patrick Morrisey is truly a vote to make America great again."
"Donald Trump and I are fighting every day for our coal miners and the hard-working men and women of our state," Morrisey said after Trump invited him on stage. "He's trying to get the man off your back, and I'm trying to help him. One of the best ways I can help Trump is if you send me to the Senate, where I can be a big ally of the president."
Trump also endorsed West Virginia's entire Republican slate of candidates for Congress. He called out congressional leaders in the minority party for not having West Virginia's best interests at heart.
"They're not in favor of West Virginia," Trump said. "They don't know that West Virginia exists. They don't like coal. They don't like energy.
"If you vote for Joe Manchin or any other Democrat in November, you're voting for someone who wants to destroy the coal industry," Trump continued.
Trump focused on several of the common themes he brings up at his rallies. He talked about the nation's economic growth, his desire to build a wall on the border with Mexico, his support for tightened immigration restrictions and enforcement, foreign policy regarding North Korea and the independent counsel investigation into Trump campaign collusion with Russia.
Trump enjoyed a 63 percent approval rating in West Virginia in July, according to survey research company Morning Consult. The crowd, numbering more than 10,000 by some estimates, constantly cheered references to Trump's actions as president, and jeered mentions of Democratic leaders in Congress, Manchin and even news outlets.
"I'll tell you, (the media) have pushed you down forever," said Gov. Jim Justice before Trump took the stage.
"Our coal miners are on the way back, and greatly because of Donald Trump," Justice said. "I can never thank him enough for what he has done for this nation. He has restored integrity and respect."
There was no mention of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort being convicted on eight counts, including tax and bank fraud Tuesday afternoon. There was also no mention of former Trump attorney Michael Cohen pleading guilty to eight counts, including campaign finance violations by paying women to secure their silence about alleged affairs with the president.
Melody Potter, the chairwoman of the West Virginia Republican Party, criticized Manchin for voting against the tax cut plan passed by Congress last year and supported by Trump.
"Roses are red, turtles are slow. On Trump's tax cuts Joe voted no," Potter said through a poem. "I am a proud Republican and I support President Trump. He is truly making America great again."
Justice -- a friend of Manchin -- also endorsed Morrisey after being brought on stage by Trump.