Trump pushes AI as national security

President Donald Trump has cast America's artificial intelligence race with China as a national-security imperative, pushing faster development and massive buildout of data centers and power infrastructure.

Survey reveals voter opposition

A new CNBC All-America Economic Survey finds sixty-three percent of registered voters oppose an AI data center within ten miles of their home, while just thirteen percent support one.

Republicans split on infrastructure

Nearly fifty-five percent of MAGA supporters want companies to keep developing advanced AI while Congress works on regulations, but only twenty-nine percent would support a data center within ten miles of their home.

Democrats lead the opposition

Eighty percent of Democrats oppose nearby data center facilities while just four percent support them, compared to twenty-four percent of all Republicans and Republican-leaning voters who would support one nearby.

Communities fight infrastructure costs

As the buildout accelerates, communities are fighting data centers over spiking electric bills, soaring electricity and water demand, noise, land use and taxpayer subsidies, coupled with job-displacement fears from AI.

Data center oversight tops voter concerns

When asked their top concerns if Republicans retain Congress, eighteen percent of voters cited a failure to regulate AI and data centers, tying continued military efforts in Iran and outranking deportations.

Ohio and Texas shift their stance

Sen.Jon Husted of Ohio, who in twenty twenty-four called AI facilities crucial to America's economic superiority, now promotes legislation to make large facilities cover their own grid costs.Gov.

“crucial to America's economic superiority”

Trump calls for community dividends

Trump said in a Truth Social post that data center developers should pay host communities a financial dividend and generate their own power, arguing local payouts can turn unpopular projects into popular ones.

Majority wants AI regulation first

Overall, fifty-two percent of registered voters want advanced AI development paused until Congress passes safety regulations, compared to thirty-two percent who favor moving ahead to keep pace with China.

Sentiment toward AI has deteriorated

Brad Carson, co-founder of Public First Action PAC, told CNBC that sentiment toward AI has deteriorated a lot over the last six months, with people now strongly insistent upon reasonable guardrails.

“The debate has shifted dramatically”