# Trump Warns Cities Against Rejecting Data Centers: China 'Could Not Be Happier' With Growing Opposition > Source: > Published: 2026-08-31 17:50:19+00:00 # Trump Warns Cities Against Rejecting Data Centers: China ‘Could Not Be Happier’ With Growing Opposition ## Trump described data centers as a "Golden Goose" for the U.S. economy. [President Donald Trump](https://www.ibtimes.com/topic/trump) is escalating his defense of the massive data centers powering the [artificial intelligence](https://www.ibtimes.com/topic/ai) boom, warning communities that rejecting the projects could cost them jobs, tax revenue and a place in the global technology race. "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 Monday in a [Truth Social post](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/117190477440173795). "If they want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign." Trump described data centers as a "Golden Goose" for the U.S. economy and framed the growing opposition to their construction as a potential advantage for China. "The good news is that there are plenty of other places that want them," Trump wrote. "If we kill the Golden Goose, you will only have yourselves to blame. [China](https://www.ibtimes.com/topic/china) could not be happier with this anti Data Center movement. Actually, they can't believe it is happening!" The comments come as data centers have emerged as an increasingly contentious political issue ahead of the November midterm elections. While the facilities are essential to running and training increasingly powerful AI systems, their enormous electricity requirements, water consumption and potential effects on utility bills have fueled opposition in communities around the country. A recent [Economist/YouGov poll](https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/econTabReport_v7iliA1.pdf#page=101) found that 61% of Americans opposed construction of a data center in their community, including 47% of Republicans. More than half of Trump voters surveyed said they believed a new data center would increase their electricity costs. That backlash is increasingly crossing party lines. [The Associated Press reported](https://apnews.com/article/a419be82fb6b32a8fc048ac7ffbd1de3) that conservative residents have joined forces with environmental activists against proposed projects in several communities, citing concerns ranging from electricity and water consumption to farmland loss and the scale of corporate development. Trump, however, has made expanding AI infrastructure a centerpiece of his strategy to keep the United States ahead of China. In July 2025, Trump [signed an executive order](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/accelerating-federal-permitting-of-data-center-infrastructure/) aimed at accelerating federal permitting for large data centers and the energy infrastructure required to operate them. The order calls for streamlined environmental reviews, expanded access to federal land and potential financial support for qualifying projects. The administration's broader AI Action Plan similarly argues that U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence will require a dramatic expansion of data centers, semiconductor manufacturing and electricity generation. More recently, the administration has attempted to address fears that households will end up paying for the enormous electricity needs of AI companies. In July, the [Environmental Protection Agency said](https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-issues-permitting-guidance-further-president-trumps-agenda-promoting-data-centers) companies signing Trump's Ratepayer Protection Pledge would commit to securing the energy required for their facilities, paying the full cost of that power and supporting infrastructure. © Copyright IBTimes 2026. All rights reserved.