Breaking

Trump Warns Towns Rejecting Data Centers Will Be Left Behind as Local Opposition Hits 75%

August 31, 2026 at 12:36 EDT

Policy & Regulation
Infra & Chips

President Donald Trump on Monday warned that U.S. communities that reject data centers risk becoming “backwards and poor,” doubling down on a national AI buildout even as new polling shows three-quarters of Americans would oppose a facility near where they live.

August 31, 2026 · White House

Let data reign — not in my zip code

President Trump says towns that reject data centers will end up backwards and poor. A Heatmap Pro poll finds 75% of Americans would oppose a new facility near home, up from 42% a year earlier.

Opposition to a nearby data center

42%

Aug 2025 opposed

75%

Aug 2026 opposed

Stacked blocks scale with share opposed (same question, Heatmap / Embold).

61%+

Strongly oppose nearby sites

15%

Would support a nearby project

$130B

Projects delayed or canceled in Q1 2026

~500

Jurisdictions with bans or moratoriums

Administration case

Data centers are framed as jobs, lower taxes, and the way to keep an AI lead over China — a “Golden Goose” other towns will take if locals refuse.

Local pushback

Neighbors cite power bills, water, noise, and land use. Opposition spans parties; some GOP candidates now want pauses despite the White House line.

The bind

National AI strategy still needs warehouses of servers. Local majorities increasingly will not host them.

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