In West Virginia, Trump Hails Conservatism and a New G.O.P.
Governor.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va.
— Bragging about keeping his promises on immigration, the economy, the environment
and crime, President Trump celebrated on Thursday with a raucous West Virginia crowd as the
state's Democratic governor announced that he will switch to the Republican Party.
With Gov. Jim Justice by his side, Mr. Trump hailed stock market records and the growth
of coal income in West Virginia.
And he delivered a lengthy critique of the federal investigations of his campaign's
ties to Russia, calling the matter "a fake story that is demeaning to all of us."
His comments came just hours after reports that a grand jury had been impaneled in the
Russia investigation and that subpoenas had been issued.
"Most people know there were no Russians in our campaign; there never were," Mr.
Trump told the crowd in a midsize rural town that drew thousands of supporters from across
Appalachia, a region that gave Mr. Trump some of the largest margins of his election.
"We didn't win because of Russia; we won because of you," he said.
"Are there any Russians here tonight?
Any Russians?"
The president also demanded that Congress pass a repeal of the Affordable Care Act,
urging the crowd to call their lawmakers so they will have "the guts" to take a vote.
He vowed to reduce taxes, continue to crack down on immigrants, and rebuild the country's
infrastructure.
The crowd welcomed the announcements, cheering heartily when Mr. Justice officially abandoned
the Democratic Party, and repeatedly applauding for Mr. Trump, waving "Women for Trump"
and "Make America Great Again" signs.
Mr. Justice said he would officially change his voter registration on Friday.
"I will tell you with lots of prayers and lots of thinking, today I will tell you as
West Virginians that I can't help you anymore being a Democrat governor," he said.
He imagined his mother, who has passed away, saying, "Jimmy, it's about damn time you
came to your senses."
The governor initially received some boos from members of the crowd who seemed uncertain
why he was there.
But they applauded his announcement, and he quickly wrapped his arms around the president.
"This man is a good man.
He's got a backbone, he's got real ideas.
He cares about us in West Virginia," Mr. Justice said of Mr. Trump.
He defended the president over the Russia investigation, saying, "Have we not heard
enough about the Russians?"
After the announcement, Mr. Trump praised the governor: "Having Big Jim as a Republican
is such an honor," he said.
"Fantastic man, fantastic guy."
Mr. Justice, a billionaire coal and real estate magnate, ran as a conservative Democrat and
declined to endorse Hillary Clinton in 2016.
But even as West Virginia has become a reliable Republican state in presidential elections
and further down the ballot, a handful of Democrats have still been able to win office.
Mr. Justice, though, is said to have friendly relationships with some members of Mr. Trump's
family.
Before entering politics he gave money to officeholders in both parties while variously
registering as a Republican, a Democrat and an independent.
Mr. Justice's decision to change parties will further isolate Senator Joe Manchin III,
a West Virginia Democrat and himself a former governor.
Mr. Manchin has resisted the entreaties of Republicans to change parties and add to the
two-seat Senate majority.
Some Trump administration officials, eyeing Mr. Manchin's seat, also had hoped to put
him in the cabinet, but he has declined all overtures.
Now he must stand for re-election in 2018 without the help of a friendly governor.
"Joe Manchin has been and always will be a proud West Virginia Democrat," said Jonathan
Kott, Mr. Manchin's communications director.
Mr. Kott said Mr. Manchin was still not interested in joining the Trump cabinet.
In his first months as governor, Mr. Justice, a colorful and hulking figure who stands over
six feet, seven inches, drew headlines beyond West Virginia's border for bringing a plate
of cow excrement into the state Capitol to express his anger at a Republican-passed budget
proposal.
"What we have is nothing more than bunch of political bull you-know-what," Mr. Justice
said, pulling the lid off a silver platter to reveal the scented prop atop a printed
copy of the budget.
But the governor, who found his fortune with coal and now owns The Greenbrier resort, continues
to be dogged by the financial issues that Republicans sought to use against him in last
year's campaign.
The state tax department has filed four liens this year against of one of Mr. Justice's
companies, Tams Management Inc., citing nearly $1 million in unpaid taxes, interest and penalties
related to his coal mines.
Mr. Justice scaled back his television advertising campaign late in last year's governor's
campaign, telling Democratic officials that, while wealthy on paper, he had limited liquidity,
according to a Democrat involved in the conversations.
Representative Evan Jenkins, one of the Republicans seeking Mr. Manchin's Senate seat, said
he would welcome the governor to his party.
"I simply couldn't be a part of a liberal agenda that was so contrary to who we are
and what we believe in West Virginia," said Mr. Jenkins, who switched parties several
years ago.
Shaking hands with constituents earlier in the day at a meet-and-greet near the stadium
where Mr. Trump was scheduled to speak, Mr. Jenkins said he would understand if Mr. Justice
felt the same way.
"If Jim Justice is the next to change his party registration to Republican, I welcome
him to the Republican party," he said.
Chris Goertler, a retired consultant from Williamstown, W.V., who was at the stadium
to see Mr. Trump, said he used to be a Republican but is now "nonaffiliated."
Told of Mr. Justice's expected announcement, Mr. Goertler shrugged and said, "I could
never be a Democrat myself."
Russell Lucas, an electrician from Kenova, W.V., who was also in line waiting to see
Mr. Trump, said he would welcome Mr. Justice to the Republican Party, but added that he
supported him even though he was a Democrat.
"Doesn't matter to me," he said.
"He's done a lot for this state already.
He's a mine owner, and I know guys that work in the mines, and all of them like him.
They said he's for the people."
Mr. Trump repeatedly reminded the crowd of his 42-point margin of victory over Mrs. Clinton
in the state.
"I love your grit, your spirit," he said.
"And I love our coal miners, and they are coming back strong.
The change you voted for is happening every single day."
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