Trump creates new problems for Republicans with overnight post on hot-button issue

Donald Trump took to Truth Social early Wednesday to press for more data centers to be built at a time when it has become a highly contentious issue with Republican Party candidates.

In a post at 1:37 a.m. ET, he urged tech companies and local governments to “make deals,” saying both would benefit. Trump said new and large data centers are “mandated by me” to make their own electricity and give or sell any excess back to the local community or grid, adding that there “could be a substantial decrease” in electric prices.

“If companies want to make their Data Centers popular, pay the community, and/or individuals within the community, a ‘dividend.’ I have watched the process closely, and Data Centers that were highly unpopular in a certain area, have become extremely popular when a financial deal is struck. MAKE DEALS, and get them built!!! GREAT FOR THE U.S.A. President DJT”

The post comes as opposition to data centers has scrambled the midterms. Axios reported in August that Republican candidates in several states have broken with the industry. Candidate Chuck Gray won the Republican primary for Wyoming’s open House seat after running ads promising to “stop data centers.” In Wisconsin, Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) is running ads that attack his Democratic opponent as “data center David Crowley.” In Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown is attacking Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) as “the face of data centers,” and Axios reported that the NRSC privately warned AI companies that a Husted loss could chill support for data centers nationwide.

Trump has repeatedly defended the industry. He has called data centers a “Golden Goose” and warned that communities rejecting them could end up economically worse off. In August, he said data centers “could use a little public relations help.” On Sept. 29, after hosting tech executives at the White House, he told reporters residents of communities with data centers could get a “dividend,” Newsweek reported.