US President Donald Trump expressed strong support for AI data centers, saying they can bring communities jobs, increased income and lower taxes as demand for infrastructure to power the growing AI industry accelerates.
His comments come as concerns over large data center projects grow, particularly around electricity demand, power costs, environmental impacts and effects on local communities.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the GOP’s Senate campaign arm, recently warned AI companies that growing backlash against data centers could hurt the party’s chances of retaining a key Senate seat in Ohio.
Trump said he is okay with Republicans opposing data centers, while emphasizing that AI data centers can can benefit communities through jobs, increased income and lower taxes to communities.
Trump argued that newer data centers are producing their own energy. “The data centers now are mandated by me that they build their own electricity so they’re not taking it from the grid,” he said.
He also said that having data centers generate their own electricity could help lower the cost of electricity.
“If I ran a community, if I was a mayor or I was a governor in the state, I would want to have the data centers because they bring tremendous income,” Trump said, adding that newer facilities are “clean” and produce their own energy.
Meanwhile, concerns over the expansion of AI infrastructure are also emerging at the state level. Last month, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order establishing a one-year moratorium on new hyperscale data centers, while the state develops a regulatory framework focused on protecting ratepayers, the environment, the energy grid and local communities.
Also Read: UN Chief Urges AI Firms to Disclose Environmental Impact of their Systems
