US President Donald Trump criticized opponents of artificial intelligence data centers on Monday, stating that their actions would lead to communities becoming 'backwards and poor' and that they were inadvertently aiding China. This backlash against data centers has emerged as a significant issue in the upcoming US midterm elections, with Trump finding himself at odds with many Republicans. Polls indicate that a majority of Americans oppose the construction of these centers due to concerns over rising electricity costs and noise.
Trump expressed his views on his Truth Social platform, stating, '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, 'If they want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign.' He warned that if the industry were to be stifled, the blame would rest with the opposition.
As Republicans face the possibility of losing control of Congress, the issue of data centers has become increasingly contentious. A Fox News survey from July revealed that 70 percent of respondents opposed the establishment of an AI data center in their vicinity, including 60 percent of Republicans and 76 percent of Democrats. Candidates in at least 21 races across 18 states have referenced data centers in their campaign advertisements, reflecting bipartisan concern.
Despite the growing opposition, Trump has continued to support data centers, even after his administration had previously engaged tech firms in a 'Ratepayer Protection Pledge' to shield consumers from higher energy prices. He remarked that China would be pleased with the anti-data center sentiment, saying, 'China could not be happier with this anti Data Center movement. Actually, they can't believe it is happening!'
China is projected to nearly double its data center capacity within five years, intensifying the competition in AI technology with the United States. Trump's Vice President, JD Vance, took a more cautious approach during a campaign visit to Michigan, acknowledging that much of the backlash against data centers stems from concerns about increased utility costs. Vance stated, 'If you build a data center, you should be putting power back into the grid, not taking it out.'
The White House highlighted that companies like OpenAI, Oracle, and Related Digital are investing over $7 billion in a 'hyperscale data center campus' in Michigan. Vance, who has a background in tech investment, has built his political image on addressing the economic worries of American voters.