Over the past several months, the issue of data centers across the country has become one of the most hotly debated issues in the country with people on both sides of the political aisle taking stands on both sides. Even Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has taken a public stand. Now, United States President Donald Trump has offered his opinion.
In a social media post this week, Trump made it clear that he supports data centers and he does not think that anyone should oppose them, unless they want to “end up being backwards and poor.”
Data Center Debate
While data centers are fueling the recent AI boom in the United States, the general public is not sold on them.
Over the past several months, public sentiment has turned against data centers. According to a recent Gallup poll, seven in 10 Americans opposed constructing data centers for artificial intelligence in their local area, with nearly half strongly opposed.
Critics have expressed concern about the impact on the environment and the quality of life of those living around them, not to mention the sheer amount of space that they take up. The concerns include the massive electricity and water consumption that strain local grids, severe noise pollution from the cooling systems, and toxic air emissions from emergency diesel generators.
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who recently made waves with her decision to speak out against transgender female athletes in women’s sports, has even spoken out against data centers.
“So how do we save our farm land and stop all these dumb data centers?” Cunningham asked in a post on X last month.
Trump Says ‘Let Data Reign’
In a post on Truth Social this week, Trump made it very clear where he stands on data centers, as he called them the “golden goose,” saying “let data reign.”
“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 they want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign. The good news is that there are plenty of other places that want them. If we kill the Golden Goose, you will only have yourselves to blame. China could not be happier with this anti Data Center movement. Actually, they can’t believe it is happening!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Monday.
This is not the first time recently that Trump has taken a stand on data centers. During an interview that aired last week, Trump called it a “mistake” for individuals and communities to oppose data centers.
“I’m letting them build their own power plants,” Trump said in an interview with his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, via USA Today. “Frankly, communities that don’t take a data center, they’re making a mistake because there’s plenty of communities that want them. Because it means jobs, and it means tremendous tax revenue coming into the towns and cities that take them. So you know, it’s like the smart ones are saying, ‘I want them so badly.'”
Despite the public concern, it’s very clear where Trump stands.
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