--- title: "Trump calls data center critics 'backwards and poor'" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-calls-data-center-critics-backwards-and-poor" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/trump-calls-data-center-critics-backwards-and-poor" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-calls-data-center-critics-backwards-and-poor.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/trump-calls-data-center-critics-backwards-and-poor" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-01T18:05:11.315Z" source_reported: "2026-09-01T16:53:59.000Z" updated: "2026-09-01T18:05:11.315Z" trust_score: 55 critic_score: 55 hype_score: 25 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-01T19:00:33.017484+00:00" --- # Trump calls data center critics 'backwards and poor' *Republican congressman Tim Burchett pushes back on former president's remarks as public opposition to AI facilities grows.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 55 of 100, higher is better. Two full reports corroborate key claims; digests add breadth but not depth. - Craft 55 of 100, higher is better. Quotes and figures present; some repetition across digests. - Hype 25 of 100, lower is better. Headlines overstate conflict; body tempers tone. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Donald Trump stated that communities opposing AI data centers would become 'backwards and poor.' - Republican Rep. Tim Burchett responded that he must be 'backwards and poor' for his apprehension. - Public opposition to AI data centers is high, with polls showing over 70% of Americans against them. - Democratic candidate Frank Kloucek called for a one-year moratorium on AI data center development. Former President Donald Trump stated that communities opposing the construction of artificial intelligence data centers would end up 'backwards and poor.' Republican Representative Tim Burchett, who has often allied with Trump, responded that he supposed he was 'backwards and poor' for being apprehensive about the facilities. Burchett told a reporter that the public had been poorly educated about the data centers and that more local control was needed. Trump encouraged communities to accept large data centers, which are massive computing facilities that power AI. He wrote on Truth Social that those who want to be 'successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place' will 'let Data Reign.' He also warned, 'If we kill the Golden Goose, you will only have yourselves to blame.' Concerns about data centers include their use of energy and water, potential strain on the electrical grid, and impact on local economies and the environment. A March Gallup poll found 71% of U.S. respondents opposed AI data centers in their communities. A Fox News poll in July found 70% of respondents opposed them, including 53% of MAGA Republicans. Frank Kloucek, a Democratic candidate for the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, called for a one-year moratorium on AI data center development. He stated that South Dakota should not become a testing ground for billion-dollar AI data centers while families and farmers are left wondering who will pay the bill. Kloucek said large data centers can require enormous amounts of electricity and water and may necessitate costly new infrastructure. ## Disagreement on data center impact Donald Trump asserted that communities opposing data centers would become 'backwards and poor,' and that those who want to be 'successful and rich' will 'let Data Reign.' The Independent reported that Trump also said those who oppose data centers help rival China. Dakota Free Press reported that Kloucek stated data centers may impoverish rural communities and that ratepayers should not be forced to subsidize private developments. ## What the coverage left out None of the left or centre-rated reports mentioned the National Republican Senatorial Committee memo warning Senator Jon Husted of Ohio that the politics around data centers could impact his election, as reported by The Independent. The unrated report from whereisthebuzz.com did not mention the Gallup or Fox News poll findings on public opposition to data centers. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 67% (4) - Centre: 33% (2) - Right: 0% (0) 1 of 7 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-01T19:00:33.017484+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 5 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-01T19:15:24.766Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports focused on Republican Representative Tim Burchett’s response to Donald Trump’s remarks. The Independent and Raw Story highlighted Burchett’s statement that he must be 'backwards and poor' for opposing data centers. The Independent also included a quote from Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez suggesting a data center be built at Mar-a-Lago. Heatmap.news reported Trump’s statement that data center opponents 'want to end up being backwards and poor'. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports highlighted Donald Trump’s statement that opponents of AI data centers want to be 'backward and poor.' Lietuvos Radijas ir Televizija reported Trump’s assertion that opponents would become 'backward and poor' and help rival China. Dakota Free Press focused on Democratic candidate Frank Kloucek’s call for a one-year moratorium on AI data center development, stating that data centers may impoverish rural communities and that ratepayers should not subsidize private developments. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 4 - unknown: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/tim-burchett-data-centers-trump-b3042866.html) — MAGA lawmaker calls himself ‘backwards and poor’ for opposing data center push - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/tim-burchett-data-centers-trump-b3042866.html) — MAGA lawmaker calls himself ‘backwards and poor’ for opposing data center push - [Lietuvos Radijas ir Televizija](https://lrt.lt/naujienos/mokslas-ir-it/11/3039330/trumpas-di-duomenu-centru-statybu-priesininkai-nori-buti-atsilike-ir-skurstantys) — Trump: Opponents of AI Data Center Construction Want to Be 'Backward and Poor' - [Raw Story](https://rawstory.com/tim-burchett-2677803124) — MAGA rep flings Trump smear back in his face: 'Guess I'm backwards and poor' - [heatmap.news](https://heatmap.news/am/trump-data-centers-climate-superfund) — Trump Says Data Center Opponents ‘Want to End Up Being Backwards and Poor’ - [whereisthebuzz.com](https://whereisthebuzz.com/?p=94675) — Rep. Anna Paulina Luna On Trump Calling Data Center Critics "Backwards And Poor": "Leave It For The People To Decide" - [Dakota Free Press](https://dakotafreepress.com/2026/09/01/man-of-the-people-kloucek-supports-one-year-moratorium-on-data-centers-trump-out-of-touch) — Man of the People: Kloucek Supports One-Year Moratorium on Data Centers; Trump Out of Touch ## Questions **What did Donald Trump say about people who oppose AI data centers?** Donald Trump stated on Truth Social that the only reason communities would not want data centers is if they 'want to end up being backwards and poor.' He also said that those who want to be 'successful and rich' will 'let Data Reign.' **How did Republican Rep. Tim Burchett respond to Trump's comments?** Republican Rep. Tim Burchett, who has often allied with Trump, responded to the former president's remarks by saying he supposed he was 'backwards and poor' for being apprehensive about AI data centers. He also stated that the public had been poorly educated on the topic. **What is the public's opinion on AI data centers?** Public opposition to AI data centers is high. A March Gallup poll found 71% of U.S. respondents were opposed, and a July Fox News poll found 70% of respondents opposed them, including 53% of MAGA Republicans. **What action has been proposed regarding AI data center development?** Frank Kloucek, a Democratic candidate for the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, has called for a one-year moratorium on the approval and development of new AI data centers in South Dakota. He argued that ratepayers should not subsidize private developments. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-calls-data-center-critics-backwards-and-poor. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Trump calls data center critics 'backwards and poor'", https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-calls-data-center-critics-backwards-and-poor