‘China doesn’t want these built’: Trump claims Beijing is behind AI data centre protests

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday in California alleged that China is fueling nationwide opposition against artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, claiming Beijing promotes resistance as the US outperforms China in AI development. Speaking to Fox News, Trump asserted that whoever emerges victorious in the AI race will dominate the technology, describing AI as more significant than the internet or any event for centuries.

Trump suggested that China is intentionally obstructing AI infrastructure construction in the US, stating that local communities are expressing opposition due to concerns over rising electricity costs, water usage, and environmental impacts. He defended AI data centers as economically beneficial, noting that some facilities generate their own electricity and can sell surplus power back to the grid at low cost, potentially lowering taxes and increasing property values.

Trump claimed that the US leads the world in the number of data centers, boasting about 10 times more than China. The US and China together account for approximately 90% of global data centers. The opposition to AI data centers has surged across the country, delaying or impeding billions of dollars in planned investments. On July 18, a coalition led by former Tea Party activist Amy Kremer organized 142 protests across 42 states, with Texas, Georgia, California, and Pennsylvania witnessing the highest activity.

According to Marjorie Steele, founder of the Economic Development Responsibility Alliance of Michigan, the issue is dividing Trump's base, as many conservatives express reservations about AI data centers. Recent Gallup and Reuters/Ipsos polls suggest that about 70% of Americans would oppose a data center near their homes, with only around one-third supporting the current construction pace and only 14% backing one in their community.