MAHA activists’ letter urges shift on coal planning
Nearly 200 activists from the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement have criticized President Donald Trump's promotion of coal to power AI data centers in a letter to his administration. They advocate for renewable energy options, citing environmental and health concerns, while the White House defends Trump's environmental record. The letter highlights growing tensions between the activist group and the administration over environmental policy ahead of the November elections.
Nearly 200 activists associated with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement have sent a letter to President Donald Trump and various Cabinet officials, criticizing the administration's policy of promoting coal to fuel artificial intelligence data centers. The letter, which includes signatories such as former Kennedy campaign staffer Zen Honeycutt and speechwriter Charles Eisenstein, argues against a 2025 executive order that aimed to boost coal usage, citing pollution concerns and advocating for a shift to renewable sources like solar and geothermal energy.
The activists expressed concerns about the environmental and health impacts, stating that "American AI leadership should not come at the cost of a more toxic burden for American children." They also called for transparent review of data center siting and power sourcing, along with adherence to environmental review requirements. In response, White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers defended Trump's environmental record, noting a 30-year low in greenhouse gas emissions during his first term and asserting a mandate to roll back "radical climate policies."
This letter marks the MAHA movement's first significant mobilization on fossil fuels and underscores a growing rift between the diverse group of activists and the Trump administration on environmental issues. While the administration has enthusiastically supported coal and framed data centers as crucial for winning the AI race, many MAHA members have expressed frustration over the administration's broader deregulatory environmental agenda, including its stance on pesticides. Data centers have become a political flashpoint, facing criticism from voters across the spectrum for their electricity consumption, water demands, and potential for air and noise pollution.