Trump attacks datacenter pushback, saying opponents ‘want to end up being backwards and poor’

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-08-31T17:45:14.851Z • Permanent link

Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on communities pushing back against datacenter projects across the US, saying opponents want to "end up being backwards and poor". The US President's comments come as datacenters continue to expand, with many large companies investing heavily in the infrastructure to power their operations.

According to recent data from the US Census Bureau, the US is home to over 500 datacenters, with a total capacity of over 1.5 million square feet. This growth is driven by the increasing demand for cloud computing and big data storage, with companies like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud leading the charge. However, not everyone is pleased with the expansion of datacenters, with many communities expressing concerns over the impact on property values, traffic, and the environment.

Trump's comments were sparked by a recent poll, which found that three-quarters of Americans oppose datacenters being built next to their homes. The poll was conducted by the Pew Research Center and surveyed over 1,500 adults across the US. The results are significant, as they suggest that public opinion is shifting against the construction of large datacenters in residential areas.

The pushback against datacenter projects is having a significant impact on companies that rely on these facilities. For example, companies like Facebook and Twitter have been forced to address concerns over their datacenter expansion plans, with some arguing that the facilities are too large and will have a negative impact on local communities. Additionally, research communities are also taking notice, with some experts warning that the expansion of datacenters could exacerbate existing issues around data privacy and security.

Furthermore, the expansion of datacenters is also having a significant impact on markets and policy environments. For example, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been working to develop new regulations around datacenter construction, with a focus on ensuring that the facilities are built in a way that minimizes their impact on local communities. Meanwhile, companies like Equinix and Digital Realty are investing heavily in the development of new datacenters, with a focus on providing high-performance computing capabilities to businesses and organizations.

The pushback against datacenter projects is part of a larger trend of public resistance to large-scale infrastructure development. This trend is evident in areas such as wind farms, pipelines, and high-speed rail projects, where local communities have raised concerns over the impact on the environment and local residents. In many cases, these concerns have been driven by a desire to protect local ecosystems and preserve the natural beauty of the surrounding area.