U.S. — "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 in a Truth Social post. "If they want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign," he said.

Trump directed specific criticism at the geopolitical implications of local bans. "The good news is that there are plenty of other places that want them. If we kill the Golden Goose, you will only have yourselves to blame. China could not be happier with this anti Data Center movement. Actually, they can't believe it is happening!" Trump wrote.

AI data centers house computing equipment used to train and operate artificial intelligence models developed by companies including OpenAI and Anthropic. These facilities require power and cooling infrastructure to maintain operations.

Opponents of data centers have raised concerns about electricity costs, power demand, water use and other local impacts. More than 500 counties and municipalities have passed data center bans or moratoria in response to these issues.

Data Center Watch found that grassroots groups blocked or delayed at least 75 data center projects worth approximately $130 billion in the first three months of 2026. Monterey Park, California pushed back against data centers and successfully resisted their construction.

Prince William County, Virginia successfully resisted proposed data center projects. Wake County, North Carolina also successfully resisted proposed data center projects.

A Gallup survey conducted in March found that seven in 10 Americans oppose constructing AI data centers in their local area, including 48% who are strongly opposed. This sentiment has translated into political action across multiple states.

The political ramifications extend to high-profile elections. The Senate seat in Ohio is being contested in a special election to fill the remainder of the term vacated by Vice President JD Vance.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee issued a memo on Aug. 18 warning that negative perceptions of data centers could expand beyond Ohio if not addressed. The NRSC memo stated that private polling in Ohio shows Republican Sen. Jon Husted in a "dead heat" with Democratic challenger Sherrod Brown.

The NRSC memo stated that Sherrod Brown has made opposition to data centers the centerpiece of his campaign against Jon Husted. Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House of Representatives and a 53-47 majority in the Senate.

William Lawrence made opposition to data centers a main focus of his successful campaign for the Democratic nomination to represent the Lansing area. In Utah, the senate president was removed from office after supporting hyperscale data center proposals.

Why It Matters

The conflict over data center construction intersects with national economic strategy, local governance, and partisan politics. President Donald Trump framed the issue as a choice between modernization and decline, while Vice President JD Vance identified utility costs as the primary driver of public opposition.

With Republicans holding narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress, the outcome of races like the Ohio special election could influence federal policy. The NRSC memo noted the risk that negative perceptions could spread, potentially impacting the legislative agenda for AI infrastructure.

What's New

The communities in Ohio that oppose new data centers are directly affected, as they risk economic decline and are warned by President Donald Trump that they benefit China. JD Vance told reporters that data centers were an "important part of the AI economy."

"When people build them, they have to build the power plants along with the datacenters. I think probably 99% of the backlash to datacenters has come in areas where building a datacenter means higher utility and higher electricity for the people on the ground." Vance said. "I think what these companies have to do is take advantage of some of the federal deregulatory efforts that we’ve undertaken. If you build a datacenter, you should be putting power back into the grid, not taking it out. And if that is happening, I don’t think the datacenters are that controversial."

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on the specifics of data center construction. GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers announced support for a one-year moratorium on data center construction in Michigan after reports revealed he held millions in AI-related investments. Wolfe Research report: Wolfe Research reported a 60-point drop in net support for local data center construction across party lines over the past 12 months.