President Donald Trump on Friday threw his full weight behind the artificial intelligence buildout, declaring himself “100% in favor of Super Intelligence” and promising to work with states that want data centers and the riches he says they bring.
“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 in a 7:01 a.m. Truth Social post. “They are GOLD, and only foolish leadership will say ‘NO’ to the riches they bring!”
The statement lands days after voters in Tuesday’s midterms delivered the first broad electoral check on the AI industry’s expansion, backing candidates and measures in several states that promised tighter scrutiny of data center construction. It signals the White House intends to court willing states rather than retreat – while leaving the fights over where centers get built, and who pays for the power and water, at the state and local level.
What it means for your bills
The debate is ultimately about household costs. Communities near proposed sites have raised alarms that the massive facilities, which can use as much electricity as small cities, will push up power bills and strain local water supplies used for cooling. Supporters point to construction jobs, tax revenue and new investment.
Trump has tried to answer the cost concerns directly. In an October 21 post, he said large data centers should generate their own electricity, sell excess power to local utilities and deliver financial benefits to nearby residents. “MAKE DEALS, and get them built!!! GREAT FOR THE U.S.A.,” he wrote then.
Where the projects land now depends heavily on governors and statehouses, several of which changed hands Tuesday. Texas, the center of the construction boom, elected Democrat Gina Hinojosa governor on a platform that included pausing new data centers until lawmakers address electricity and water-supply concerns. Democrats also won governor’s races in Ohio, Georgia and Arizona, other states expected to attract major AI investment.
Read: Data center industry braces for state-level reckoning after midterm losses
JBizNews Desk | Washington
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