President Donald Trump said artificial intelligence could become "bigger than the internet" and urged regulation that protects U.S. leadership over China without stifling the industry. Speaking at a White House gathering with crypto executives and financial regulators ahead of the CFTC's first Innovation Advisory Committee meeting, Trump defended the rapid construction of AI data centers and dedicated power plants, while acknowledging that the industry needs "a little public relations help" as communities challenge projects over electricity costs, water use and environmental impacts. At least 37 people have been arrested during data center protests this year, lawmakers in 15 states have considered development moratoriums, and at least 75 data centers worth roughly $130 billion faced local opposition in the first quarter of 2026. Trump also highlighted construction jobs, tax revenue and investment, while Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed new requirements intended to make large data center developers cover costs imposed on the electrical grid. Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle and xAI previously signed the White House's Ratepayer Protection Pledge to fund new generation and infrastructure for their facilities.