Donald Trump Dismisses AI Concerns Despite GOP Strategic Warnings

President Donald Trump dismissed warnings about artificial intelligence and the expansion of data centers as a "hoax," comparing these concerns to claims about climate change. In a series of Truth Social posts on September 14, 2026, Trump asserted that the only necessary guardrails for AI are a "STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT." He warned that communities opposing data center construction would become "backward and poor" and contacted Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to claim that robots would not take over.

These public statements contrast with a strategic memo issued by Tony Fabrizio, a lead pollster for Trump. Fabrizio advised Republican candidates to avoid unqualified support for data centers, calling it a "losing position." Citing polling that shows 65% of registered voters oppose unrestricted development, Fabrizio urged candidates to validate voter concerns regarding water use and utility bills, and to condition support on developers providing their own power.

Trump's rhetoric has triggered backlash from some former supporters and critics. A New York Times analysis found that criticism of data centers among Trump's Truth Social followers outweighs support by nearly four to one, while a prominent TikTok creator who previously supported the president has called for his resignation.