In a Time interview on Oct. 1, President Trump defended AI data centers as job creators and revenue boosters, saying communities that reject them risk economic decline. He cited Loudoun County, Virginia, as an example of a data center producing about $1.5 billion in local benefit. A March Gallup poll found 71% oppose building data centers and 57% fear AI will do more harm than good; 46% said they "worry a great deal" about environmental impacts. Critics, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez, pushed back, while industry data highlight concerns about water use.
Trump Defends AI Data Centers, Says Opponents Choose 'Squalor' as Debate Over Jobs and Environment Intensifies
President Donald Trump is doubling down on his criticism for those who oppose data centersCredit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty
President Donald Trump defended the economic value of AI data centers and sharply criticized Americans who oppose them during an interview with Time on Oct. 1.
What He Said
Interviewers showed Trump results from a Gallup poll conducted in March that the article cited: 71% of Americans oppose building data centers and 57% believe artificial intelligence will do more harm than good. Trump argued that data centers create jobs, boost local tax revenue and lower taxes for residents.
“If you want to be poor, you want to have no money, if you don't want to have a job, and if you want to live in a crime‑infested area, squalor, all the things that go along with it, you should not have a data center.”
Trump cited Loudoun County, Virginia, saying a data center there produced roughly $1.5 billion in local benefits this year. He added he would welcome data centers in his county, even if he would not want one next to his own home, and said he would promote them more broadly if he received fair media coverage.
Donald Trump holds up a picture of a data center in the Cabinet Room of the White House on Aug. 26, 2025 in Washington, D.C.Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty
Public Concerns and Industry Data
Poll results reflect tensions communities face when weighing economic benefits against environmental and social concerns. The Gallup survey also found 46% of respondents say they "worry a great deal" about the environmental impact of data centers, including water use and disruption from construction.
Industry figures underline those concerns: Amazon reported its global data centers withdrew about 2.5 billion gallons of water in 2025, largely for cooling servers, a figure the company said represented a 2% decline from the previous year despite continued expansion.
Political Response
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez pushed back publicly, quipping that a data center could be placed at Mar‑a‑Lago to challenge the president's rhetoric. The exchange highlights how data center siting has become a flashpoint in broader debates over technology, local control and economic development.
Where This Leaves Communities
Supporters point to job creation, higher local revenues and potential tax relief. Opponents cite environmental strain, resource use and neighborhood disruption. The dispute underscores the tradeoffs communities must weigh when deciding whether to host large data installations.
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