Politics
MAHA activists urge Trump administration to avoid using coal for AI data centers
Nearly 200 members of the health-focused coalition sent a letter advocating for renewable energy instead of fossil fuels to power expanding computing infrastructure.
The short version
- Nearly 200 activists from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s 'Make America Healthy Again' movement sent a letter urging President Donald Trump not to rely on coal to power artificial intelligence data centers.
- The coalition, which includes former Kennedy campaign staffers, expressed concerns regarding air pollution, toxic waste, and the health effects of coal power on children.
- The White House defended its deregulatory approach, citing emission reductions during Trump's first term and a mandate to overturn prior climate regulations.
- The dispute marks the movement's first major mobilization over energy policy and introduces potential friction within the coalition ahead of midterm elections.
Key facts
- A letter signed by nearly 200 activists in the Make America Healthy Again movement criticized a 2025 executive order aimed at expanding coal power for artificial intelligence data centers.[ABC News]
- Signatories included former Kennedy campaign staff members Zen Honeycutt of Moms Across America and speechwriter Charles Eisenstein.[ABC News]
- The activists asked the administration to consider renewable alternatives such as geothermal and solar power and to maintain transparent environmental review processes for data center development.[ABC News]
- White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers responded by stating that greenhouse gas emissions fell during Trump's first term and asserting the administration holds a mandate to reverse costly climate rules.[ABC News]
What remains uncertain
- It is unclear whether the broader MAHA movement or its affiliated political action committee, MAHA Action, will formally adopt the letter's stance on energy policy.[ABC News]
- The extent to which this environmental disagreement will affect voting behavior among MAHA supporters in the upcoming midterm elections remains undetermined.[ABC News]