President Donald Trump floated a strange idea on Monday that his administration is working on to lower utility costs for Americans.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that his administration is working with tech companies to ensure that their data centers do not inadvertently drive up utility prices for the average American. The idea was floated at a time when Democrats had won a spate of elections by focusing their messaging on lowering the cost of living, something Trump also promised to do on the campaign trail. Republicans have been working behind the scenes to get Trump to talk more about affordability, an idea that he's called a "Democrat scam."
"I never want Americans to pay higher Electricity bills because of Data Centers," Trump posted on Truth Social. "Therefore, my Administration is working with major American Technology Companies to secure their commitment to the American People, and we will have much to announce in the coming weeks."
Recent reports show that utility prices increased significantly in areas where data centers were built. Not only do data centers require significant amounts of energy, thereby increasing electricity demand, but they are also forcing energy companies to upgrade their infrastructure. Those costs are also being passed down to consumers in many cases.
Some Democrats like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) have also called for data centers to bear more of the upfront costs for their operations.
"First up is Microsoft, who my team has been working with, and which will make major changes beginning this week to ensure that Americans don’t 'pick up the tab' for their POWER consumption, in the form of paying higher Utility bills," the post continued. "We are the 'HOTTEST' Country in the World, and Number One in AI. Data Centers are key to that boom, and keeping Americans FREE and SECURE but, the big Technology Companies who build them must 'pay their own way.'"