Trump warns data center opponents risk jobs as midterm backlash grows
Why it matters: Republican strategists see the issue as a widening election threat, with polling showing strong local opposition.
President Donald Trump attacked U.S. communities resisting AI data centers, arguing they risk losing jobs, tax revenue and the country’s competitive edge to China. The broadside came as Republicans face mounting political pressure over the rapid buildout of the facilities before November’s midterm elections. A National Republican Senatorial Committee memo last week warned the backlash could spread beyond Ohio, where private polling showed Sen. Jon Husted in a tight special-election race against Democrat Sherrod Brown. Gallup said in May that seven in 10 Americans opposed AI data centers in their local area, while critics across the country have raised concerns about electricity costs, water use, grid strain and fast-paced development.