President after president has said energy independence is critical. But then you have the EPA tasked to go after American companies producing coal and penalizing them. You can't have it both ways.

Corey Lewandowski’s quote addresses the apparent contradiction in U.S. energy policy, where multiple presidents have emphasized the importance of energy independence, yet government agencies like the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) are tasked with regulating and penalizing American companies involved in producing coal. Lewandowski is highlighting what he sees as a disconnect between the political rhetoric of securing energy independence and the actions taken by regulatory bodies, which he believes undermine those goals.

Lewandowski's statement critiques the inconsistency between advocating for energy independence and enforcing environmental regulations that, in his view, restrict domestic energy production. He argues that by penalizing companies involved in coal production, the government is hindering its own ability to achieve self-sufficiency in energy. This creates a dilemma, where policy goals related to national energy security are in direct conflict with actions that limit the nation’s energy production capacity.

The phrase "you can't have it both ways" encapsulates Lewandowski's frustration with the situation, suggesting that the U.S. cannot simultaneously promote energy independence and impose regulations that make it difficult for domestic industries to thrive. His argument is that if the goal is truly to achieve energy independence, policies must support and incentivize the production of domestic energy, rather than penalizing industries like coal, which have historically played a large role in the nation's energy infrastructure.

Ultimately, Lewandowski’s quote is a criticism of what he sees as hypocrisy in U.S. energy policy—where lofty goals of energy independence are undermined by actions that penalize the very industries that could help achieve those goals. It reflects a broader debate over how to balance economic growth, environmental concerns, and national security in the context of energy policy.