Donald Trump Slams US Areas Rejecting Data Centers: 'Backwards and Poor'
Trump says communities that oppose data centers risk losing jobs, tax revenue and a competitive edge to China.
President Trump urged continued data center construction in the United States on Monday, despite growing opposition and bipartisan criticism. In a post on Truth Social, the president argued that communities should not oppose data centers, or risk becoming "backwards and poor." He stated, "The only reason that communities throughout the U.S.A. should not want Data Centers is if they want to end up being backwards and poor.
If we kill the Golden Goose, you will only have yourselves to blame." Trump's comments come as AI videos on social media dominate his online presence. On Sunday night, he shared a video depicting the bombing of Kharg Island, a crucial port for Iran's oil exports amid renewed US military strikes. The previous night, Trump posted an AI video of himself replacing a "Welcome to Lake Ontario" sign with a "Welcome to Lake America" sign.
However, boosting AI and data centers remains unpopular. As my colleague Sophie Hurwitz reported in May, most Americans oppose having a data center in their neighborhood. Despite their large energy and water demands, limited job creation relative to investment, and environmental concerns, opposition to data centers is bipartisan, even in solidly Republican states like Florida.
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