President Donald Trump launched a blistering attack on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and its CEO during a White House event promoting coal, vowing to personally target the utility’s leader over compensation and energy policies.
Donald Trump speaks about TVA CEO
Speaking at a pro-coal event on February 11, Donald Trump criticized the nation’s largest public power provider and singled out TVA CEO Don Moul over both energy policy and executive pay.
Trump said the utility had “gone in a very stupid, very bad direction” and mocked Moul’s compensation package. “Can you believe it?” Trump said, citing a $10 million figure. He also declared, “Trump is on the scene now,” and vowed to “make his [Moul’s] life miserable.”
The comments came the same day the TVA Board of Directors voted to reverse earlier plans to retire certain coal-fired units. Instead, the board opted to continue operating coal plants at the Kingston and Cumberland fossil plants in Tennessee.
Trump praised the board’s decision to maintain coal production but continued to criticize TVA leadership. Reports indicate Moul, who became CEO in spring 2025, was going to get more than $6 million in his first year. The $10 million figure referenced by Trump aligns with compensation received by former CEO Jeff Lyash, who got more than $10 million in 2024.
In response to the president’s remarks, TVA spokesperson Melissa Green said in a statement to Knox News: “TVA operates one of the nation’s largest power systems, providing affordable, reliable energy to 10 million people. Our team is focused on building America’s energy future.”
The confrontation highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and federal utilities, particularly regarding energy policy and executive compensation at government-related entities. With Donald Trump now pledging to personally target the TVA CEO, what happens in the clash between the White House and the nation’s largest public power is yet to be seen.
