President Donald Trump doubled down Friday on his embrace of expanding AI infrastructure across the country, warning that only “foolish” leaders would say no to what he calls “Super Intelligence,” even as AI data centers have grown deeply unpopular with Americans.
Last year, Trump signed an executive order to fast-track permitting for AI data centers and another aimed at blocking states from enforcing their own AI rules. Meanwhile, his super PAC, MAGA Inc., has raked in millions of dollars from the AI industry, including $25 million from OpenAI President Greg Brockman and his wife, Anna.
“As President, I am 100% in favor of Super Intelligence (SI), and will work with the many States in the U.S. that want to become RICH by having them,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, using “Super Intelligence” as a catchall for AI. “They are GOLD, and only foolish leadership will say ‘NO’ to the riches they bring!”
Despite Trump’s embrace of AI data centers, Americans have grown to oppose the push. A Heatmap Pro poll conducted by Embold Research and published in August found that a staggering 75% of Americans would oppose a new data center being built near where they live, a 33-point swing against the facilities in a year.
The revolt has blindsided the industry, even in red states, where some Republicans have called for moratoriums on new facilities.