Trump defends data centers as economic boon
President Donald Trump, in an interview that aired Aug. 23, told his former lawyer Michael Cohen that "communities that don't take a data center, they're making a mistake." The remarks, taped Aug. 20, came as data centers have become a political flashpoint in local elections across the country. Trump touted their economic benefits, saying, "I'm letting them build their own power plants. Frankly, communities that don't take a data center, they're making a mistake because there's plenty of communities that want them. Because it means jobs, and it means tremendous tax revenue coming into the towns and cities that take them. So you know, it's like the smart ones are saying, 'I want them so badly.'"
Trump has consistently defended data centers, pointing to their role in creating jobs and generating tax revenue. He has touted his Ratepayer Protection Pledge, which 23 Republican governors signed, aiming to protect households from increased utility costs. The pledge is part of his broader argument that data centers can be built without burdening ratepayers.
Opposition and political tensions
Despite Trump's advocacy, data centers face significant opposition. Palm Beach County, Florida, where Trump resides, is among the communities pushing back. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a one-year pause on data center construction in July. Trump responded on Truth Social, calling data centers "one of the biggest Driving Forces in the Future for Jobs ... They are big, strong, bold, and Money Machines for the State in which they are built."
Trump has also sought to avoid making opposition a litmus test for Republican candidates. He told reporters Aug. 21 that he would not hold it against a Republican candidate who opposes data centers, acknowledging the political sensitivity of the issue.
Public sentiment and environmental concerns
The opposition reflects broader public sentiment. A Gallup survey released in May found that 70% of Americans oppose building data centers in their communities, including 48% who strongly oppose them. As of Aug. 19, there were more than 4,700 data centers across the United States, according to Data Center Map. Virginia hosts more than 600, and Texas more than 500. Environmentalist Erin Brockovich launched a website on April 27 called Brockovich AI Data Center Reporting, and its interactive map has cataloged more than 9,000 AI data centers.
Critics cite significant environmental impacts. In 2023, data centers consumed 176 terawatt-hours of electricity, more than 4% of the U.S. total, according to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Large data centers can consume up to 5 million gallons of water per day, per the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, which also reports that about 80% of water withdrawn evaporates. The institute notes that noise from data centers can cause headaches, vertigo, nausea, and other health issues. Additionally, only 22.3% of the world's e-waste is properly collected and recycled, per Human-I-T, and e-waste may expose humans and the environment to lead, mercury, arsenic, and other contaminants, according to the Geneva Environment Network.
Economic benefits cited by supporters
Proponents point to substantial economic gains. Data center employment increased by more than 50% from 2017 to 2023, per a PwC report. A 2025 Business Insider review found that the average data center employs 150 workers, with some as few as 25. Technical salaries at data centers range from $78,000 to $134,000, according to Indeed. The industry's contribution to government finances increased by 146% from 2017 to 2023, per the same PwC report.
Trump's comments underscore the tension between the economic opportunities data centers represent and the environmental and quality-of-life concerns that fuel local opposition. As the debate continues, communities and policymakers are weighing the benefits against the costs.