President Trump said communities that reject AI data centers will suffer economically, arguing the facilities bring lower taxes, widespread jobs and substantial income. His comments came as opposition to local projects has increased: a Fox News survey last month found 70% of respondents opposed building an AI-supporting data center in their area, including 60% of Republicans and 76% of Democrats. Critics, including lawmakers and residents, have focused on the facilities’ environmental and financial effects. A medium-sized data center can use up to about 110 million gallons of water annually for cooling, equivalent to roughly 1,000 households’ yearly consumption, an analyst at the nonprofit Environmental and Energy Study Institute reported last year. Dozens of companies, including Meta, Amazon and Google, have agreed to cover higher energy costs under Trump’s ratepayer protection pledge, but candidates from both parties in swing states continue to support development restrictions. Trump earlier this month said Republican candidates opposing data centers were acceptable to him, while maintaining that he would favor them as a mayor or governor. He also said China benefits from the anti-data-center movement.