President Trump's strong backing of AI data centers has placed him at odds with a growing number of voters who oppose their construction, and this stance comes amid direct warnings that it could worsen the Republican Party's prospects in the November midterm elections. According to insiders, political strategists have cautioned administration officials over the past few months that they risk losing the public relations battle over data centers.

Recent polling shows that roughly 70% of Americans do not want such facilities built near their homes, while Democratic candidates are seeking to gain an edge over their Republican rivals by linking the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure to voter concerns about the cost of living. Trump frequently boasts about America's strength in the AI sector.

However, insiders reveal that Trump administration officials were advised that the president needs to place greater emphasis on the benefits of AI, including its advantages for voters whose jobs are at risk due to AI. Instead of adjusting his approach, Trump has doubled down.

This week, he claimed on social media that the only reason communities oppose data centers is that they want to be "backward and poor," urging the public to "let data rule everything." On Friday, Trump further elaborated on this argument, framing it as a choice facing local communities.

"If you want lower taxes, if you want to create enormous wealth, if you want your home to be worth more, and everything else, then you will want a data center," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "If you want to experience poverty, crime, and a filthy life, I would say, then don't approve the data center."

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick attributed the opposition to "propaganda conducted by our adversaries" and stated that the benefits of data centers to communities are "obvious." David Sacks, Trump's former AI czar, claimed the opposition stems from "misinformation" and said "no one is trying to force anyone to accept these data centers."

This situation highlights an awkward dilemma facing AI proponents, including Trump: they tout AI as crucial to American economic growth, yet the technology depends on massive data center construction, which has become highly unpopular in cities and towns facing rising electricity bills, strained power grids, and sprawling new infrastructure.

"This is a very new issue, and the politics around it are still taking shape," said Republican strategist Alex Conant. "Many political figures will reflect on what the polling numbers convey, and clearly, these AI companies should do a better job of explaining the benefits that data centers bring."