The Issue Making Politicians Sweat As November Midterms Loom

Americans dislike data centers, but will their disdain affect how they vote in the midterm elections?

Widespread public discontent toward the projects has blurred partisan lines, with the White House, Republicans and Democrats ending up on different sides of the issue.

The White House believes voters will focus on “day-to-day” issues, one source close to the Trump administration told the Daily Caller News Foundation. Meanwhile, AI safety experts and leftist groups think the election may serve as a referendum on out-of-touch tech elites.

“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social in late August. “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.”

The president’s stance runs counter to the worries Americans have about data centers, such as their water usage, impact on electricity bills and proximity to residential areas.

“President Trump’s bold leadership is turning data centers into engines of growth and opportunity for communities across the country that want them, all while cementing America’s dominance over China in the global AI race,” Liz Huston, a White House assistant press secretary, told the DCNF in a written statement.

“By requiring data centers to pay for their own power, water, and utilities, the President has ensured the American people never foot the bill for private companies’ profits. President Trump will continue leveraging the data center boom to deliver jobs, growth, and economic benefits for working families and small businesses,” Huston added.

“The fact is that the AI revolution, which we’re calling ‘super intelligence’ now, is viewed internally in the administration as the gateway to a continued economic golden age,” the source close to the Trump administration told DCNF.

‘Singing A Similar Tune’

Voters rank the economy as their top issue heading into the midterms, with Americans facing a wider affordability crisis due to the wars in Iran and Ukraine. Grocery and fuel costs continue to rise and rates for a 30-year mortgage now exceed 7%.