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Is US data center opposition a ‘China PR thing,’ as Trump says? Experts say that’s exaggerated
Polling shows 61% of U.S. adults oppose data center construction in their area as officials and activists dispute foreign influence claims.
- On September 10, President Donald Trump told Fox News host Laura Ingraham he attributes widespread local opposition to U.S. data center construction to "a China PR thing," echoing claims from other officials that external influence drives resistance.
- Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has blamed the pushback on "foreign source dark money" and "foreign psy-ops campaigns," claiming areas attempting to build data centers face bombardment from "foreign-directed propaganda."
- The Data Center Watch reported 45 projects worth almost $68 billion were blocked, while an August Data Center Opposition report found 580 groups with 640,000 members opposing construction.
- Critics argue this resistance is organic, with Mitch Jones, managing director of policy and litigation for Food & Water Watch, noting a movement spanning Bernie Sanders to Steve Bannon is not "mystical power" China wields.
- House Republicans requested briefings from the FBI and the President's Council of Advisers on Science and Technology in June regarding international influence campaigns and "billionaire-backed activism" against U.S. AI infrastructure buildout.
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Total News Sources27
Leaning Left0Leaning Right0Center27Last UpdatedBias Distribution100% Center
Bias Distribution
- 100% of the sources are Center
100% Center
C 100%
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