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Trump defends AI data centers, warning communities that oppose them will become poor

President Donald Trump pushed back against growing bipartisan pushback against server farms, warning that rejecting data center construction benefits China.

Updated Aug 31, 2026 · 19:30 UTC3 reports

The short version

  • President Donald Trump criticized local communities opposing new AI data centers, arguing that rejecting them risks leaving areas 'backwards and poor' while aiding rival nations like China.
  • The remarks follow mounting pushback from voters across political lines and action by several Republican leaders to pause, review, or restrict data center incentives and approvals.
  • Recent polling indicates that roughly 70% of Americans oppose constructing local AI data centers, largely over concerns regarding energy demand, water usage, and local power costs.
  • The issue has emerged as a key political dispute in upcoming elections, including an Ohio Senate special election where data center opposition features prominently.

Key facts

  • President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that opposing data centers would leave communities 'backwards and poor' and warned against killing the 'Golden Goose' to China's benefit.[The Washington Post · CNBC · Business Insider]
  • Polling from Gallup and Fox News found that approximately seven in ten Americans or registered voters oppose local AI data center construction.[CNBC · Business Insider]
  • Several prominent Republicans have acted to restrict data centers, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott placing a moratorium on new large-scale approvals and Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen executive-ordering a pause on new construction and tax incentives.[Business Insider]
  • Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy pledged to sign an executive order pausing new data center construction if elected.[Business Insider]
  • A leaked National Republican Senatorial Committee memo warned that voter backlash against data centers was harming Republican candidate Jon Husted in Ohio's Senate special election against Democrat Sherrod Brown.[CNBC]
  • Data center opponents frequently express concern over elevated electricity costs, power grid demand, and water resources required to train and run AI models.[CNBC · Business Insider]

What remains uncertain

  • It remains uncertain how significantly the political backlash over data center development will impact outcome control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections.[CNBC]

Sources