Trump says U.S. communities opposing AI data centers could end up 'backwards and poor'

Trump publicly pressured communities opposing AI data centers on Truth Social, warning they risk becoming "backwards and poor" while framing resistance as a victory for China. The statement comes as Republicans face significant electoral risk from voter backlash ahead of November midterms, with a Gallup survey showing 70% of Americans oppose data center construction in their local areas. Wolfe Research reported 60-point drops in net support for local data center construction across party lines over the past 12 months. The NRSC's private polling in Ohio shows Republican Senator Jon Husted in a dead heat with Democratic challenger Sherrod Brown, who has made data center opposition the centerpiece of his campaign. The NRSC warned that a Husted loss attributed to data centers would cause politicians nationwide to distance themselves from future projects.