Trump: AI data centre opponents want US to be 'backwards and poor'

US President Donald Trump criticized opponents of artificial intelligence data centres on Monday, claiming they would make the U.S. "backwards and poor" and boost China's influence. The backlash against energy-intensive centers has become a surprise issue in the upcoming US midterm elections, with Trump at odds with many Republicans.

A majority of Americans now oppose building these centers due to rising electricity bills and noise. Trump stated, "If they want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign." He warned that destroying the "Golden Goose" would only lead to economic hardship. Republicans face the risk of losing control of Congress amid the Iran war driving up living costs, and data centre opposition is growing based on opinion polls.

Trump's Vice President, JD Vance, took a more measured stance, emphasizing that data centers should contribute to the grid rather than consume energy. Despite opposition, Trump's administration has backed tech firms in a voluntary Ratepayer Protection Pledge. China, set to nearly double its data center capacity in five years, may be pleased with the anti-data centre movement, as suggested by US media reports.