PRESIDENT Trump has signed an executive order which aims to boost the flagging US coal industry and rolls back Barack Obama’s plans to tackle climate change.

The firebrand Republican declared "the start of a new era" in energy production and said the order would revive coal mining and create jobs.

3 Trump holds up an executive order eliminating Obama-era climate change regulations surrounded by coal workers Credit: Reuters

The executive order seeks to suspend, rescind or flag for review more than a half-dozen measures in an effort to boost domestic energy production in the form of fossil fuels.

Environmental activists, including former Vice President Al Gore, denounced the plan.

But Trump said the effort would allow workers to "succeed on a level playing field for the first time in a long time."

He said: "That is what this is all about: bringing back our jobs, bringing back our dreams and making America wealthy again.”

MOST READ IN NEWS SHORT SHARP LOCK Pubs & restaurants could shut completely within days in two-week lockdown Exclusive CARROT AND STICK Workers told to isolate with Covid symptoms will be given cash lump sum Exclusive HERO SWEDE How ice-cool scientist saved Sweden from Covid WITHOUT lockdown WATCH OUT 18 new places on coronavirus watch list revealed – with 2 areas added this week HOLIDAY TRAGEDY Mum, 33, found dead on holiday from alcohol poisoning after 'drink session' Exclusive VILE VIDS 'Pedo filmed himself raping baby while changing diaper’ as pal says she told mom

Trump was speaking at the Environmental Protection Agency headquarters and was surrounded by a number of coal miners.

The order initiates a review of the Clean Power Plan, which restricts greenhouse gas emissions at coal-fired power plants.

The regulation, which was the Obama’s effort to curb carbon emissions, has been the subject of legal challenges by Republican-led states and those who profit from burning oil, coal and gas.

3 President Trump speaks at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Headquarters in Washington after signing the order Credit: Getty Images

But just as Obama's climate efforts were often stymied by legal challenges, environmental groups are promising to fight Trump's pro-fossil fuel agenda in court.

Trump has called global warming a "hoax" invented by the Chinese, and has repeatedly criticised the power-plant rule as an attack on American workers and the struggling US coal industry.

In addition to pulling back from the Clean Power Plan, the administration will also lift a 14-month-old ban on new coal leases on federal lands.

Trump signed the order hours after the White House was dramatically placed on lockdown after a “suspicious package” was discovered.

3 Police are pictured arresting the suspect outside the White House Credit: US Secret Service

A suspect was arrested as Secret Service agents cleared all media and visitors from the North Lawn and eagle-eyed snipers were spotted roaming the Presidential property.

The man reportedly approached an officer half a block from the White House and made a ‘suspicious’ comment while holding a package.

Cops detained the suspect and seized the package.

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368