Public opposition to nearby AI data centers has intensified, rising to 71% among American adults in a March 2026 Gallup poll and matching a May 2026 Heatmap Pro survey. The result exceeded the 63% opposition recorded in an earlier Economist/YouGov poll and marked a sharp increase from late-2025 opposition levels of 42% to 47%. Resistance spans both parties and has delayed or blocked projects, while President Trump, technology companies and allied groups continue campaigning for data-center development. Microsoft backed legislation that would prevent data centers from passing water-usage connection costs to consumers, adding to industry efforts to address community concerns. Republican candidates in at least five states, including Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, have adopted tougher positions, creating tension with Trump and Texas officials’ earlier support for AI infrastructure. Critics cite electricity and water consumption, higher utility bills, noise, pollution, light pollution and limited local benefits. More than 75 initiatives representing over $130 billion in planned investment faced delays or blockage in the first quarter of 2026, and roughly 300 state-level regulatory bills were introduced during the first half of the year.