Trump keeps embracing data centers, an unpopular topic in midterm races

Former President Donald Trump is actively embracing the development of data centers, a topic that many political candidates are actively avoiding in the lead-up to midterm elections.

Speaking alongside cryptocurrency leaders, Trump stated that he would "absolutely want" a data center or AI plant in any town or state he governed, emphasizing the "enormous" jobs and tax revenues they generate. This perspective directly challenges the growing voter backlash against these massive facilities, which are powering artificial intelligence and cloud computing.

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If I were the mayor of a town or the governor of a state, and I had a chance to get a big plant in, an AI plant or a data center, I would absolutely want it because the jobs are enormous and the money paid, the taxes paid, are just enormous.

Candidates across the political spectrum are facing opposition due to concerns that data centers can increase electricity bills, deplete water resources, cause air and noise pollution, and alter community character. The Senate Republicans' campaign arm has even warned that anger over these facilities could cost them seats.

Trump, however, positions data centers as essential for national and economic security, particularly in the race for artificial intelligence dominance against China. While acknowledging concerns about rising electricity bills, he has also pushed for streamlining the building process for power plants and has secured voluntary pledges from tech giants to help shield consumers from increased utility costs. Nevertheless, the immediate political reality for many candidates remains that data centers are a contentious issue, with some viewing the White House's stance as "tone deaf."

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It is yet another dimension in which the White House appears tone deaf, tone deaf at best and indifferent to the interest of other Republican candidates at worst.