Trump's Warning

President Trump on Monday warned Americans against rejecting data centers, describing the power-intensive facilities as a path to economic progress. In a series of posts on his social media platform, Trump argued that data centers bring increased tax revenue and lower unemployment to host communities, benefits he said outweigh the costs.

"The only reason that communities throughout the A. should not want Data Centers is if they want to end up being backwards and poor," Trump wrote. "If they want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign."

Trump cautioned that states and localities that turn away data centers would lose out to others willing to approve such projects, adding: "If we kill the Golden Goose, you will only have yourselves to blame."

Vance's Nuance

Vice President JD Vance offered a more measured interpretation of Trump's remarks, suggesting the president was referring specifically to data centers that generate their own power. Speaking as he headed to a campaign event with Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, who supports data centers, Vance said: "If you build a data center, you should be putting power back into the grid, not taking it out."

"If that is happening, I don't think data centers are that controversial," Vance added.

Political Context

Data centers have emerged as a contentious issue in the midterm elections, with polling showing majorities in both parties opposed to them. Tech companies argue the facilities are essential for maintaining America's competitive edge in artificial intelligence, while local opposition has prompted elected officials to reassess their positions.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul last month issued an executive order pausing new data center construction for a year—a move Trump has criticized.