<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Rep. <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez</a> (D-NY) on Monday responded to President <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/donald-trump/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Donald Trump</a> regarding data centers, suggesting he should have one at his Florida residence if he believes in their benefits.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Ocasio-Cortez's comments followed Trump's <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/data-centers/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">recent statement</a> that communities in the U.S. should want data centers to avoid becoming "backwards and poor."</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">She remarked, “Oh, I mean, how about we put one in <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/mar-a-lago/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mar-a-Lago</a>?” during an interview with <em>MeidasTouch</em>’s Pablo Manriquez. “Let’s put a <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/data-centers/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">data center</a> at Mar-a-Lago, and we’ll see how backwards and poor he is in response to that.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Cloud South <a href="https://www.cloudsouth.com/about/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">operates</a> a data center in Palm Beach, located less than 2 miles from Mar-a-Lago.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This exchange highlights a growing divide, as Ocasio-Cortez and other socialists frame data center expansion as a conflict between wealth and poverty. They argue that corporations benefit from data center deals at the expense of local communities, contributing to an oligarchic society, a view shared by figures such as Ocasio-Cortez, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Michigan Senate nominee Abdul el Sayed.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In contrast, Trump and supporters maintain that data centers, which support artificial intelligence and the technology infrastructure, provide economic advantages that lead to job creation, improved living standards, and enhanced national security against competitors like <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/china/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">China</a>.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, “If they want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign.” He added that there are many locations eager for data centers and warned against opposing them, suggesting that such actions could benefit China.</p>