President Donald Trump touted his administration's roll-backs of environmental regulations, criticized Democrats and praised the natural gas industry in Pittsburgh Wednesday afternoon.

Trump served as the keynote speaker at the 2019 Shale Insight Conference at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh. The conference is an industry event for those involved in energy production throughout the Marcellus Shale region.

“I was here three years ago, you're much happier now,” Trump said. “And you're much wealthier, and you're providing a lot more energy than you used to, that's for sure.”

Trump was joined by an entourage of business people and elected officials. From Butler County, both U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16, and U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-15, were introduced, though neither spoke.

Harold Hamm, chairman and CEO of Continental Resources, introduced the president.

“For the first time, folks in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan aren't just being flown over anymore,” Hamm said. “They're being listened to. These are the votes that elected President Trump.”

County Commissioner Leslie Osche attended both to support natural gas drilling in the area and to see Trump. She was invited by David Spigelmyer, president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, a group that advocates for gas drilling.

“Butler County has been supportive of the shale coalition,” Leslie said as she walked through the convention center. “We've been the recipient of a lot of benefits from the gas and shale industry.”

This an excerpt of the story at will appear in tomorrow's Butler Eagle. To read the full story, pick up Thursday's Butler Eagle.