Trump says AI data centre opponents want to be ‘backwards and poor’

Former President Donald Trump has publicly lambasted opponents of artificial intelligence data centers, asserting on his Truth Social platform that communities rejecting these facilities desire to be "backwards and poor." He advocates for data center development, promising lower taxes and job creation, framing it as crucial for economic prosperity. This stance puts Trump at odds with a growing segment of Republicans, as public sentiment nationwide, reflected in a Fox News survey, shows a majority of Americans, including both Democrats and Republicans, oppose new AI data centers in their localities due to rising electricity costs and noise pollution.

The controversy surrounding data centers has become an unexpected and significant issue in the November US midterm elections. Candidates in at least 21 races across 18 states have addressed data center development in television advertisements, indicating its bipartisan relevance. Despite the political headwinds, Trump has maintained his support for these facilities, even though his administration previously sought a voluntary "Ratepayer Protection Pledge" from tech firms to mitigate consumer electricity price hikes.

Vice President JD Vance, seen as a potential 2028 presidential contender, offered a more nuanced perspective during a campaign stop in Michigan. He attributed most of the backlash to data centers to situations where their construction leads to increased utility and electricity costs. Vance suggested that data centers should ideally contribute power back to the grid rather than solely consuming it, which he believes would reduce their controversial nature. During his visit, the White House highlighted a joint investment of over US$7 billion by OpenAI, Oracle, and Related Digital in a hyperscale data center campus within Michigan. This investment underscores the ongoing development in the sector amidst the political debate.