President Rejects Local Concerns, Instead Spreading Praise for Tech Expansion
President Donald Trump’s full support for data centre development stands in contrast to the increasing pressure from the American public, who are rejecting such infrastructure in their residential areas. Residents in various regions are opposing the construction of data centres due to their massive electricity consumption; however, Trump stated that technology companies will provide direct contributions to local communities as a form of compensation, according to a White House statement on Wednesday (30/09/2026).
When asked whether this support could harm the Republican camp in the November mid-term elections, Trump explained that technology companies would work to ensure the public is satisfied with the developments. “These large, powerful, very wealthy, and very intelligent companies will provide a great contribution to the community,” he said on the White House lawn, accompanied by tech company leaders.
However, the views of the wider public differ. A national survey shows that 7-in-10 Americans feel AI companies have not done enough to prevent the potential damage caused by the technology. Furthermore, 55 per cent of respondents stated it would be better if AI development were slowed down for a period of time.
The relationship between the government and the business world appears to be very close. Leaders of AI companies, including the founders of OpenAI, were the largest contributors to the campaign committee supporting Trump in 2025. Greg Brockman of OpenAI and his wife alone donated a total of US$25 million to the committee.
On the same occasion, Trump also launched a new AI-based tool claimed to make it easier for the public to access government services. Leaders from companies such as Google, SpaceX, and Meta were present at the event. Trump stated that this tool is theoretically impenetrable by irresponsible parties, although he did not provide supporting evidence for this claim.
Additionally, Trump has ordered all government agencies to begin using the term “super intelligence” to replace the word “AI” in official documents.
US Citizens Reject Data Centres
This negative sentiment is clearly reflected in the latest survey released by the Pew Research Center. A majority of US citizens, specifically 6 out of 10 respondents, admitted to feeling uncomfortable if new data centres were built and operated in their residential neighbourhoods. A small minority (19%) felt sufficiently comfortable, and 7% felt very comfortable, if their surrounding areas were selected as locations for new data centres.
From the perspective of the US public, there are several primary concerns regarding the negative impacts of these facilities. One of the biggest focuses relates to environmental sustainability. The research noted that 54% of US citizens believe most data centres have a negative impact on the environment. This figure represents a significant surge compared to January, which stood at 39%, according to the official Pew Research Center website on Thursday (24/09/2026).
Furthermore, 50% of respondents linked the presence of data centres to a decline in the quality of life for surrounding communities. On the other hand, many citizens also highlighted the impact on the local economy. 24% of the population believes data centres have a negative impact on local job availability, and 21% believe these facilities negatively affect local tax revenue.