Donald Trump Promotes Data Centers While Opposing Local Proximity

President Donald Trump stated in a Time Magazine interview that he supports the development of data centers and the AI industry, though he admitted he would not necessarily want a facility located directly next to his home.

Trump promoted data centers as lucrative assets for American communities, claiming they can lower taxes and provide financial benefits to residents and teachers. He criticized communities that oppose such developments, suggesting that those who resist them are choosing to remain poor and live in "crime-infested" areas.

These comments follow a trend of local resistance to data center expansion. In Loudoun County, Virginia, officials ended by-right approvals for new centers following resident complaints. Similarly, the Palm Beach County Board of Supervisors approved a one-year moratorium on large-scale data center construction. During the interview, Trump also discussed the possibility of the federal government taking stakes in AI companies and dismissed reports that OpenAI agents breached federal government websites.