DistantNews
Support us
Trump attacks data centre backlash, saying China ‘could not be happier’
🇦🇺 Australia /Technology

Trump attacks data centre backlash, saying China ‘could not be happier’

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News From a news agency Ongoing story
  • Donald Trump warned that American voters would have only themselves to blame if opposition to data centres halted their development.
  • Data centres have become an election issue as residents across party lines complain about higher electricity bills and disruption from the facilities.
  • Trump linked the backlash to competition with China in artificial intelligence, while US media reports have raised questions about possible Chinese efforts to encourage opposition.

Donald Trump has turned the growing backlash against US data centres into a warning about the country’s race with China to develop artificial intelligence.

“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He argued that data centres could bring lower taxes and jobs, adding: “If we kill the Golden Goose, you will only have yourselves to blame.”

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.

— Donald TrumpTrump argued that communities should support data centre development because it could generate jobs and lower taxes.

The facilities have become an unexpected issue in the November midterm elections. Their large energy demands have angered voters over rising electricity bills, while noise and other disruption have fuelled resistance in residential communities. Candidates in at least 21 races across 18 states have mentioned data centres in television advertisements this election cycle, according to marketing data cited by US media. The campaigns are almost evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.

If we kill the Golden Goose, you will only have yourselves to blame.

— Donald TrumpHe warned voters against opposing data centre projects.

Trump also said China “could not be happier” about the opposition. US media reports have suggested that Beijing could be trying to encourage resistance to American data centre projects, prompting a congressional committee to demand an investigation. Trump did not repeat that allegation, but said: “China could not be happier with this anti Data Center movement. Actually, they can't believe it is happening!”

China is expected to nearly double its data centre capacity over the next five years as the AI competition intensifies. The debate has also reached Australia, where National Cabinet recently agreed to let states decide how new data centres should be powered after Queensland and the Northern Territory opposed a requirement that all new facilities use renewable electricity.

China could not be happier with this anti Data Center movement. Actually, they can't believe it is happening!

— Donald TrumpTrump said China would welcome growing American opposition to data centres.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog