Trump says he ‘wouldn’t necessarily like’ a data center right next to his house
Donald Trump advocates for communities to welcome data centers for economic benefits, despite public skepticism, but admits he wouldn't want one directly next to his own house. He criticizes communities that oppose them, linking opposition to poverty and crime. The article also mentions other tech leaders considering alternative locations for data centers.
Why it matters
This highlights the growing tension between the economic benefits of data centers (especially for AI) and local community concerns about their environmental impact and proximity, with a prominent political figure expressing a nuanced, somewhat hypocritical, stance.
President Donald Trump questioned communities that don't want data centers. Bloomberg/Getty Images President Donald Trump wants communities to welcome data centers. He said he's not entirely sure he wants one in his backyard. Some Virginia residents already live next to data centers that are just beyond their property lines. President Donald Trump says he isn't sure he would want a data center in his backyard. "I would like to have data centers," Trump told Time Magazine as part of a cover story interview published on Thursday. "It doesn't mean I want them right next to my house, but certainly I like them in my county." Trump has repeatedly defended the benefits of data centers and the AI industry more broadly, as polling shows widespread public skepticism. Republican governors have also begun to rein in incentives for data centers.
Also covering this story
16 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
The White House Is Starting to Panic Over the Midterms
Here’s how tech leaders will self-police AI safety under Trump’s deal
Trump plan to combat AI risks hinges on Big Tech pals policing themselves
Pledge signed by President Trump and top AI leaders misspells the United States
Trump’s AI accord mocked after US misspelt in document
Watch: Trump says White House AI Accord is ‘morally binding’, ‘almost like a constitution’
Trump calls Sundar Pichai a 'monster' at White House event, Google CEO quips back
House Democrat probing Amazon, Google, Meta, and Oracle over data center NDAs
Gemini 4 Argon (High): Intelligence, Performance and Price Analysis
Google rolls out Gemini 4 Argon, its most advanced model
Trump For New AI Name, But Official Document Can't Spell United States Right
OpenAI, Google and Meta pledge outside AI audits under voluntary White House deal
Trump says top tech firms have signed accord to 'self-police' AI development
After Trump meeting with tech leaders, AI safety in more chaotic state
Three takeaways from Trump's 'Super Intelligence' summit
Trump, tech bosses sign voluntary pact pledging ‘robust’ AI safeguards
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in