'Wildly Out Of Touch': Ansari Lambasts Trump For Calling Data Center Opponents 'Backwards & Poor'
Representative Yassamin Ansari criticized former President Donald Trump for his remarks calling data center opponents "backwards and poor." She highlighted the severe impact of data centers on Arizona's water supply and electricity grid, advocating for a statewide pause. Ansari also accused Trump of a conflict of interest due to his financial ties to a company benefiting from data center energy market growth.
During remarks on the House floor, Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) lambasted former President Donald Trump for criticizing communities that voice concerns about large, power-hungry data centers. Trump had reportedly called these opponents "backwards and poor," asserting that Americans should welcome data centers to become "successful and rich," a stance Ansari labeled as "wildly out of touch."
Ansari, representing Phoenix, Arizona, detailed the severe consequences data center proliferation poses for her constituents. She cited the region's historic water crisis, noting that a single data center can consume tens to hundreds of millions of gallons annually, and projected a 450% increase in water demand if all planned projects in Phoenix are built. Additionally, she pointed to an already strained electricity grid, rising utility bills, and research indicating that data centers can increase ambient temperatures by up to four degrees in a city already grappling with extreme heat. Ansari also criticized immense tax breaks given to ultra-rich AI and data center companies.
The Congresswoman further alleged a glaring conflict of interest, stating that Donald Trump is the sole beneficiary of a trust holding nearly 115 million shares of Trump Media. Trump Media is reportedly pursuing a $6 billion merger with TAE Technologies, an energy company that explicitly markets technology for AI data center expansion. Ansari argued that Trump is using his presidency to enrich himself, attacking communities for resisting data center construction while having a direct financial interest in the industry's growth.
Ansari voiced support for Arizona Attorney General Chris Ma's call for a statewide pause on approving new data centers until a comprehensive plan is established to protect water, the electrical grid, and Arizona ratepayers. She also urged Congress to investigate the president's conflict of interest and demand full transparency regarding his financial holdings and their intersection with his administration's data center and energy policies.