Trump calls data center opponents ‘backwards and poor’ as the industry props up the economy—but his own party wants nothing to do with it

Data centers are fueling US growth, but bipartisan backlash is forcing candidates to run from them before the midterms.

Republicans Divided After Trump Claims Non-Data Center Towns Will End Up 'Backwards And Poor'  HuffPost

Key GOP voices are apparently convinced: It’s China, not reality, driving opposition to data centers. That’s quite a message for the midterms.

Republican lawmaker’s remarks come after president declared only those ‘backwards and poor’ would oppose data centers

“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,” Trump posted on his Truth Social site.

GOP Rep. Tim Burchett (Tenn.) responded on Monday to President Trump’s statement that communities that oppose data center construction want to “end up being backwards and poor.” “I guess I’m backwards and poor,” he told MeidasTouch’s Pablo Manríquez on the House steps.  The Tennessee Republican suggested data centers c

The US President claimed 'China could not be happier' after both Democrats and Republicans hit back at his controversial latest tech push

The giant computing sites that power A.I. are increasingly opposed by communities across the country, a signal of voters’ concern about a changing economy.

The president’s remarks that are unlikely to soften mounting public criticism of Big Tech.

The president's Truth Social post comes as Republican polling in Ohio shows a Senate incumbent in a tight race partly due to data center opposition

August 31, 2026 3:35 PM ET President Donald Trump claimed communities rejecting data centers will become poor and regress backwards.Communities that reject data centers risk becoming “backwards and poor,” while those that welcome them will see job creation and far lower taxes, the president said in a Truth Social post

Trump is still gunning for mass data center advancement despite backlash from politicians and citizens.

President Donald Trump warned communities rejecting data centers risk becoming "backwards and poor" as states battle over AI boom energy and water costs.

Three-quarters of Americans said in a recent poll that they oppose datacenters being built next to their homes Donald Trump has criticized communities pushing back against datacenter projects across the US amid a growing backlash, warning those that reject them risk becoming “backwards and poor”. As controversy surroun

"China could not be happier with this anti Data Center movement," Trump said as Republicans express concerns about the backlash to data centers.

On Monday, President Trump promoted continued data center construction and criticized opponents, despite growing bipartisan backlash ahead of the November midterms.  “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,” Trump posted on

During a Cabinet meeting in August 2025, President Donald Trump held up an image of Meta's Hyperion Data Center superimposed over Manhattan to showcase its size. Bloomberg/Getty Images President Donald Trump questioned those who oppose data centers. Trump compared the facilities to a "Golden Goose." How has your commu

Trump Says Communities That Oppose Data Centers Risk Becoming ‘Backwards and Poor’  WSJ

Anyone who opposes data center development is “backwards and poor,” according to America’s billionaire president. Donald Trump argued on Truth Social Monday that the only reason to oppose a data center in your community is if you don’t want to be rich. “The only reason that communities throughout the U.S.A. should not

It’s the president’s latest line of support for data centers despite growing bipartisan concerns over the cost of such projects.

President Donald Trump criticized the rising wave of anti-data center sentiment, clashing with his administration’s aggressive efforts to build out the domestic artificial intelligence sector. Trump has placed a concerted focus on making the U.S. the global leader in AI, but voters have steadily voiced concerns about b

Trump says communities that oppose data centers risk losing jobs, tax revenue and a competitive edge to China.

President Donald Trump issued a blunt warning Monday to communities pushing back against the construction of artificial intelligence data centers, arguing that opposition to the facilities could leave communities poorer while benefiting China. “The only reason that communities throughout the U.S.A. should not want Data

Just as new data centers face growing backlash from neighboring communities, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is about to make it harder for people to weigh in on any pollution those centers create. The EPA plans to toss out a federal rule requiring public notice and an opportunity to comment when certain i