Trump slams data centre backlash, saying China 'could not be happier'
Donald Trump has criticized the backlash against data center development in the US, arguing that opposition benefits China in the AI race. The issue of data centers, driven by concerns over rising energy bills and noise, has become a significant topic in the upcoming US midterm elections, with candidates across 18 states addressing it. Trump warned that communities opposing data centers risk economic backwardness.
Donald Trump has publicly criticized the growing opposition to data center development across the United States, linking the backlash to a potential disadvantage for the U.S. in the global artificial intelligence race against China. Speaking on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that Beijing "could not be happier" about the increasing American resistance to data centers, which he argues would leave communities "backwards and poor."
The former president's comments highlight how data centers have become an unexpected key issue in the upcoming November midterm elections. Voters from both Democratic and Republican parties have expressed anger over rising electricity bills and noise pollution attributed to these energy-intensive facilities. Reports from US media indicate that candidates in at least 21 races across 18 states have featured data centers in their television advertisements, reflecting the issue's broad political traction.
Additionally, US media reports have hinted that China may be actively trying to fuel opposition to data centers, prompting a congressional committee to demand an investigation into these allegations. Trump, however, did not directly repeat these claims but reiterated that China would view the "anti Data Center movement" favorably, especially as China aims to significantly increase its own data center capacity. The article notes that while data center development is contentious in the US, it is also emerging as a global issue, citing Australia's recent national cabinet decision allowing states to set their own power rules for new data centers.