Another poll sends Trump an anti-AI data center warning ahead of midterms
They’ve become a politically divisive issue nationwide.
Donald Trump holds up a picture of a data center. By Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
- Nearly 70% of Americans oppose AI data centers in their local area, according to a new NBC News poll.
- Opposition crosses party lines, with 57% of Republicans and 81% of Democrats against local construction.
- Trump supports more data centers and says they are important for US economic and technological competition.
- Communities cite concerns over land use, water resources, and lack of transparency around data center projects.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
Almost 70% of Americans oppose having AI data centers built in their local area, a new survey has shown, adding to other polls demonstrating growing opposition to these projects across the US.
Opposition spans both parties
An NBC News Decision Desk poll of 7,105 adults, conducted from August 20th through September 1st, also found that 45% of respondents "strongly oppose" them. Even a majority (57%) of Republicans, or supporters of Donald Trump's party, said they're against local AI data-center construction. In comparison, 81% of Democrats oppose these developments.
As reported by Cybernews, a similar trend was also observed in a survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania, conducted from June 16th to July 19th, 2026. It showed that opposition to local data centers rose from 49% in March to 61% by midyear.
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Trump continues to push for more data centers
President Trump has strongly advocated for more data center construction in the US, as, according to him, these are key to the country's economic and technological development and to its competition with China.
He’s urged communities not to reject data centers because they could bring lower taxes, jobs, and economic prosperity.
Trump warned that communities that reject data centers risk becoming "backward and poor."
Why are communities pushing back
However, discontent among local communities has been rising, as people are worried about land use and natural resources, particularly water. Also, multiple reports have expressed discontent over the lack of transparency in the development of these projects.
Meanwhile, as reported, in order to fight this opposition, which some claim might be fueled by China itself, a heavily backed pro-AI non-profit is launching a multimillion-dollar ad campaign. It aims to convince both the public and politicians that AI infrastructure is necessary.
The fight is expected to intensify as data centers have become a major political issue in the US, and the midterms are approaching in November.
