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

U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized opponents of artificial intelligence data centers, asserting that these facilities create jobs and reduce taxes, warning that their absence would leave communities "backwards and poor." This stance has garnered attention as the issue has emerged as a surprise talking point in the U.S. midterm elections, with a significant portion of the public now opposed to building such centers due to concerns over increased electricity bills and noise.

Trump emphasized on his social media platform that only those desiring success and wealth, coupled with lower taxes and abundant job opportunities, should support data centers. He cautioned that obstructing the development of these facilities would ultimately lead to the community's downfall. As Republicans face potential losses in the midterms due to rising living costs, data centers have become an additional headache for the party.

Polls indicate a majority of Americans—70% according to a July Fox News survey—oppose the construction of AI data centers in their areas, with similar divisions among Republican and Democratic voters. Trump's administration had earlier signed a voluntary commitment with major tech companies to safeguard consumers against higher power prices.

Speculation exists that China may be intentionally fueling opposition to data centers, with a congressional committee calling for an investigation. Trump acknowledged China's likely satisfaction with the current situation but did not explicitly state this. Vice President Mike Pence, widely seen as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, delivered a more measured response during a campaign visit to Michigan, stating that any data center should contribute power back to the grid rather than drain it.

Pence, a former tech investor, is leveraging his connections in Silicon Valley and his identification with blue-collar voters in his political strategy. The White House highlighted that major companies like OpenAI, Oracle, and Related Digital are investing over $7 billion in a hyperscale data center campus in Michigan.