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

US President Donald Trump criticized opponents of artificial intelligence data centres on Monday, warning they would make communities "backwards and poor" and enable China to overtake the U.S. The backlash against the energy-intensive facilities is gaining traction as a surprise issue in the upcoming November midterm elections, with a majority of Americans now opposing their construction due to rising electricity bills and noise.

Trump urged communities to embrace data centres for a prosperous future with lower taxes and more jobs. While opposition to data centres is growing, even among some Republicans, Trump's stance remains consistent, despite his administration's recent partnership with major tech firms on a voluntary "Ratepayer Protection Pledge" to protect consumers from higher power prices.

Trump attributed China's support for the opposition to the movement, though he did not confirm this claim. His vice-president, JD Vance, offered a more nuanced perspective, suggesting that the backlash may stem from regions where data centres increase utility costs.