President Donald Trump on Monday urged communities across the U.S. to support the construction of AI data centers, framing opposition as a threat to economic prosperity. In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote: ‘The only reason that communities throughout the U.S.A. should not want Data Centers is if they want to end up being backwards and poor.’ He added that communities embracing data centers could benefit from ‘far lower taxes and jobs all over the place.’
Trump’s remarks follow a growing voter backlash against data centers, which has become a contentious issue ahead of the November midterm elections. Polling data shows significant opposition to local data center construction, with 70% of Americans opposing their development in their area, including 48% who are strongly opposed, according to a Gallup survey conducted in March.
Data centers, which power AI systems, require substantial energy and land, often straining local power grids and raising utility costs for residents. The backlash has intensified as AI companies spend millions on political races, with candidates in at least 21 races across 18 states airing advertisements mentioning data centers this election cycle. The issue has drawn bipartisan concern, with voters citing rising electricity bills and noise from facilities as primary grievances.
Trump’s post also warned that China would benefit from U.S. opposition to data centers, stating: ‘If we kill the Golden Goose, you will only have yourselves to blame. China could not be happier with this anti Data Center movement.’ His comments come amid broader efforts by the administration to position the U.S. as a global leader in AI, though they clash with voter concerns about affordability and local impacts.
Vice President JD Vance, asked about Trump’s post, emphasized the economic benefits of data centers while acknowledging the need for infrastructure upgrades. ‘What the president said about data centers is they're an important part of the AI economy,’ Vance said. ‘But when people build them, they have to build the power plants along with the data centers.’
Republican strategists have raised alarms about the political fallout, with the National Republican Senatorial Committee warning that voter perceptions of data centers could sway key races. A memo from the NRSC noted that in Ohio, Republican Sen. Jon Husted is in a ‘dead heat’ with Democratic challenger Sherrod Brown in a special election, partly due to concerns over data center development. Private polling cited by the NRSC found 60-point drops in net support for local data center construction across party lines over the past 12 months.
Energy consumption remains a central issue, as data centers require vast amounts of electricity to operate and cool servers. Critics argue that the facilities provide few long-term local jobs relative to their size, while proponents highlight their role in driving economic growth and technological advancement. The debate has intensified as the U.S. competes with China in the AI sector, with some lawmakers alleging foreign interference in stoking opposition to data centers.
Trump has previously stated that he would support a data center in his own community if he were a local politician, while also acknowledging the need for better public relations from AI companies. His latest remarks underscore the tension between national economic priorities and local concerns about affordability and infrastructure.