‘Let Data Reign’: Trump decries opposition to data centres in US

President Donald Trump is urging US communities to embrace data centers, despite bipartisan opposition due to concerns over their significant electricity and water consumption. Trump argued that opposition to these facilities would benefit China by diverting businesses, and stated that communities rejecting them risk becoming "backwards and poor." He promoted data centers as drivers of jobs and economic success, suggesting they could lead to lower taxes. The article notes that data centers, increasingly vital for AI, face skepticism from both Republican and Democratic voters. While the Trump administration has supported voluntary energy pledges from tech companies, consumer advocates are pushing for federal regulations, and environmental activists are concerned about water usage amid droughts.

Former President Donald Trump has criticized communities opposing datacenter construction, warning they risk becoming "backwards and poor" and that Americans will have themselves to blame if projects are canceled. This statement comes amid growing bipartisan opposition to datacenters nationwide, driven by concerns over environmental impacts, rising utility costs, and noise pollution. A recent poll indicates three-quarters of Americans oppose datacenters being built near their homes. Trump argued that datacenters bring success, wealth, lower taxes, and jobs, suggesting China benefits from this opposition. Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that higher utility costs are a primary concern for local opposition, suggesting companies should contribute power back to the grid. Despite these arguments, grassroots groups have successfully blocked or delayed numerous datacenter projects, and environmental organizations have urged a halt to new developments due to climate and water concerns.