Trump Criticizes Datacenter Opposition, Warns Communities Risk Poverty and Stagnation

Former President Donald Trump has voiced strong criticism of communities that oppose data center projects across the United States, warning that reluctance to embrace these developments may lead to economic decline. He cautioned that towns rejecting such initiatives risk becoming “backwards and poor.”

As the debate over local data center proposals heats up in the lead-up to the midterm elections, Trump stated that Americans would “only have yourselves to blame” if these projects were halted. Bipartisan resistance to data center expansion is intensifying particularly in areas with abundant land, affordable energy, and attractive tax breaks, where residents express concerns over environmental impacts, escalating utility costs, and increased noise pollution.

A recent poll revealed that a significant portion of the population is against having a data center built near their homes, with around three-quarters of Americans indicating opposition and over sixty percent strongly opposing such developments.

In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump argued: “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.” He further emphasized that communities seeking prosperity should welcome data centers, accusing the anti-data center movement of playing into the hands of international competitors like China.

JD Vance, a notable figure in the ongoing debate, responded to Trump’s remarks by highlighting the importance of data centers in the growing AI economy. He expressed that the backlash against data centers often stems from concerns over rising utility rates, stating that it is crucial for companies to contribute to the local power grid rather than drawing from it.

However, Trump’s assertions met pushback on his platform, with some users raising valid concerns about the implications for farmland and essential resources. One user pointed out, “What use is being rich if you cannot get access to water and food?”

The pushback against data centers appears to be gaining momentum, with the research group Data Center Watch reporting that grassroots communities managed to block or delay approximately 75 data center projects valued at around $130 billion in just the first quarter of 2026.

Among the towns resisting data center developments is Monterey Park, situated east of Los Angeles, which has successfully resisted such projects. Other areas with successful opposition include Prince William County in Virginia and Wake County in North Carolina.

Environmental organizations have also expressed significant concern, with a coalition of over 230 groups urging Congress to halt the construction of new data centers due to issues tied to the climate crisis, ongoing droughts, and increasing electric bills.