Trump attacks datacenter pushback, saying opponents ‘want to end up being backwards and poor’
Three-quarters of Americans said in a recent poll that they oppose datacenters being built next to their homes Donald Trump has criticized communities pushing back against datacenter projects across the US amid a growing backlash, warning those that reject them risk becoming “backwards and poor”. As controversy surrounding local datacenter plans continues to swirl around election campaigns…
Recent polling indicates that the majority of Americans oppose the construction of datacenters in their neighborhoods. In response to growing backlash against these projects, President Donald Trump warned that communities opposing datacenters risk becoming "backwards and poor". He stated that those wishing to maintain success and wealth should embrace datacenters, promising that other locations would be eager to host them.
Trump's comments came as bipartisan opposition to datacenter expansion intensified nationwide, with several states offering tax incentives and abundant resources.
Vice President Joe Biden's running mate, JD Vance, argued that datacenters are a crucial component of the AI economy. He suggested that the primary source of opposition to datacenters arises when they lead to higher utility and electricity costs for local residents. Vance proposed that companies should utilize federal deregulatory efforts to offset power costs.
Several users criticized Trump's stance, highlighting concerns about water resources and food accessibility. In reality, grassroots groups have obstructed or delayed approximately 75 datacenter projects valued at around $130 billion in the first quarter of 2026, according to Data Center Watch. Notable examples of successful resistance include Monterey Park in California, Prince William county in Virginia, and Wake county in North Carolina.
Environmental organizations have also called for a halt to datacenter development, citing climate change, drought, and escalating energy bills as significant concerns.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian US's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
