Trump Defends AI Data Centers—Says Opposing Them Is A ‘Mistake’ And ‘Smart Ones’ Want Them

BreakingBusinessTrump Defends AI Data Centers—Says Opposing Them Is A ‘Mistake’ And ‘Smart Ones’ Want ThemBySiladitya Ray,Forbes Staff. Siladitya Ray is a New Delhi-based Forbes news team reporter.Follow AuthorAug 24, 2026, 03:39am EDTToplinePresident Donald Trump defended the ongoing buildout of AI data centers across the country and said the communities opposing them were making a mistake, as he continued to embrace the controversial buildout of AI infrastructure despite growing public backlash and opposition from governors from both parties.US President Donald Trump speaks as he meets with lifeguard Ryder Williams in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC.AFP via Getty ImagesKey FactsIn his interview with former fixer Michael Cohen, which aired in full on Sunday evening, Trump claimed the U.S. was “leading China in AI by a lot.”The president said he was letting the AI companies “build their own power plants” and claimed these data centers were not taking “power from the grid,” which he described as old and “tired.”Trump said, “Frankly, communities that don’t take a data center are making a mistake,” and claimed that there’s “plenty of communities” that want them.He argued that data centers will lead to more jobs and “tremendous tax revenue coming into the towns and cities,” and said that the “smart ones” are calling for them to be built in their communities.Last week, while hosting several crypto industry executives at the White House, the president said he would “absolutely want” a data center in his area if he were given the chance, whether as a mayor of a town or the governor of a state. if (!window.cnxel) { window.cnxel = {}; window.cnxel.cmd = []; var iframe = document.createElement('iframe'); iframe.style.display = 'none'; iframe.onload = function() { var iframeDoc = iframe.contentWindow.document; var script = iframeDoc.createElement('script'); script.src = '//cd.elements.video/player.js?cid=62cec241-7d09-4462-afc2-f72f8d8ef40a'; script.setAtt...