--- title: "Trump links data centers to prosperity, warns against opposition" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-links-data-centers-to-prosperity-warns-against-opposition" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/trump-links-data-centers-to-prosperity-warns-against-opposition" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-links-data-centers-to-prosperity-warns-against-opposition.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/trump-links-data-centers-to-prosperity-warns-against-opposition" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-31T17:05:17.534Z" source_reported: "2026-08-31T16:54:43.325Z" updated: "2026-08-31T17:05:17.534Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 57 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-31T17:01:10.194433+00:00" --- # Trump links data centers to prosperity, warns against opposition *Former president argues communities rejecting facilities risk economic decline and benefit China.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to Trump's Truth Social post, with multiple outlets corroborating. - Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. Reporting is based on digests, not full articles, limiting depth and direct attribution. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines and digests use strong language like 'backwards and poor' and 'backwards and poor'. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Former President Donald Trump stated that communities opposing data centers risk becoming 'backwards and poor'. - Trump argued that communities wanting to succeed and be rich should embrace data centers, calling them a 'golden goose'. - He suggested that opposing data centers could benefit China in the race for AI leadership. - A majority of Americans oppose the construction of data centers in their local areas, according to a 2026 Gallup survey. Former President Donald Trump has voiced strong support for data centers, asserting that communities rejecting these facilities risk economic stagnation. He stated that opposition to data centers means communities want to be "backwards and poor." Conversely, Trump argued that communities aiming for success and wealth should embrace data centers, which he described as a "golden goose." Trump also suggested that opposition to data centers within the United States could benefit China. He linked the development of data centers to prosperity and economic growth, while framing rejection of the technology as detrimental to American competitiveness, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence. ## Disagreement on opposition While former President Trump linked opposition to data centers with a desire to be 'backwards and poor', a 2026 Gallup survey cited by Forbes indicated that a majority of Americans oppose the construction of data centers in their local areas. Politico noted this statement comes amid growing bipartisan concerns over the cost of such projects. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mention the 2026 Gallup survey on American opposition to data centers. None of the centre-rated digests mention Trump's specific claim that opposing data centers could benefit China. None of the right-rated digests mention the 2026 Gallup survey on American opposition to data centers. ## Who covered it Shares of the 9 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 22% (2) - Centre: 34% (3) - Right: 44% (4) 5 of 14 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-31T17:01:10.194433+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-31T17:15:27.772Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports from Politico and Joe.My.God. led on Trump's statement that communities opposing data centers risk becoming 'backwards and poor'. Politico noted this as the president's latest line of support for data centers despite growing bipartisan concerns over their cost. Joe.My.God. quoted Trump's assertion that the only reason to reject data centers is if one wants to 'end up being backwards and poor'. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports from KXRM, louisianafirstnews.com, and Forbes focused on Trump's assertion that communities opposed to data centers want to be 'backwards and poor'. KXRM and louisianafirstnews.com also mentioned that Americans' opposition to data centers in their local communities has grown, based on recent polling. Forbes additionally cited a 2026 Gallup survey stating a majority of Americans oppose data center construction locally. ### Right - The right-rated reports from Washington Times, Washington Examiner, RedState, and The Post Millennial highlighted Trump's endorsement of data centers and his warnings about economic consequences for opposition. Washington Times used the quote 'Let data reign' and noted Trump called data centers the 'Golden Goose'. Washington Examiner reported Trump's claim that communities not building data centers will be 'backwards and poor'. RedState mentioned Trump defending data centers amid China concerns, and The Post Millennial focused on Trump's statement that data centers will make communities 'successful and rich' and create jobs. ## 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: 3 - high: 4 - unknown: 6 - veryHigh: 1 ## 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 - [Politico](https://politico.com/news/2026/08/31/trump-data-centers-midterms) — Trump: Communities that reject data centers will end up ‘backwards and poor’ - [KXRM](https://fox21news.com/news/trump-says-communities-opposed-to-data-centers-want-to-be-backwards-and-poor) — Trump says communities opposed to data centers want to be 'backwards and poor' - [louisianafirstnews.com](https://louisianafirstnews.com/news/trump-says-communities-opposed-to-data-centers-want-to-be-backwards-and-poor) — Trump says communities opposed to data centers want to be 'backwards and poor' - [Business Insider (Spain)](https://businessinsider.es/big-tech/trump-avisa-quienes-rechazan-los-centros-datos-quieren-ser-pobres-atrasados-china-estara-feliz_7031151_0.html) — Trump Warns Those Who Reject Data Centers: "They Want to Be Poor and Backward. China Will Be Happy" - [Lootpress](https://lootpress.com/trump-says-communities-opposing-data-centers-risk-becoming-backwards-and-poor) — Trump says communities opposing data centers risk becoming ‘backwards and poor’ - [elperiodicodelaenergia.com](https://elperiodicodelaenergia.com/trump-defiende-los-centros-de-datos-en-eeuu-y-dice-que-oponerse-a-ellos-beneficia-a-china) — Trump Defends U.S. Data Centers and Says Opposing Them Benefits China - [La República](https://larepublica.co/globoeconomia/trump-dice-dejemos-que-los-datos-reinen-en-un-llamado-a-apoyar-los-centros-de-datos-4471003) — Trump Says "Let Data Reign" in a Call to Support Data Centers - [Washington Times](https://washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/31/let-data-reign-trump-gives-full-endorsement-data-centers) — ‘Let data reign’: Trump gives his full endorsement of data centers - [Joe.My.God.](https://joemygod.com/2026/08/trump-the-only-reason-to-not-want-data-centers-is-if-you-want-to-end-up-being-backwards-and-poor) — Trump: The Only Reason To Not Want Data Centers Is If You Just “Want To End Up Being Backwards And Poor” - [Washington Examiner](https://washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/4705987/trump-communities-build-data-centers-backwards-and-poor) — Trump says communities that don't build data centers will be 'backwards and poor' - [NDTV Profit](https://ndtvprofit.com/world/china-could-not-be-happier-trump-blasts-local-us-communities-opposing-data-centres-11982897) — 'China Could Not Be Happier': Trump Blasts Local US Communities Opposing Data Centres - [Forbes](https://forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2026/08/31/trump-says-communities-will-be-backwards-and-poor-if-they-oppose-data-centers) — Trump Says Communities Will Be ‘Backwards And Poor’ If They Oppose Data Centers - [RedState](https://redstate.com/terichristoph/2026/08/31/trump-says-china-could-not-be-happier-about-data-center-backlash-in-the-us-n2206281) — Trump Tears Into Data Center Skeptics — Enjoy Being 'Backwards and Poor' - [The Post Millennial](https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-trump-says-data-centers-will-make-american-communities-successful-and-rich-create-jobs) — BREAKING: Trump says data centers will make American communities ‘successful and rich,’ create jobs ## Questions **What did Donald Trump say about communities opposing data centers?** Former President Donald Trump stated that communities opposing data centers risk becoming 'backwards and poor'. He argued that those wanting to succeed and be rich should embrace the facilities, which he called a 'golden goose'. **How does Trump believe opposing data centers could affect the US?** Trump suggested that communities rejecting data centers might end up economically stagnant and that such opposition could benefit China. He linked data centers to prosperity and American competitiveness in artificial intelligence. **What do Americans think about data centers in their local areas?** According to a 2026 Gallup survey cited in some reports, a majority of Americans oppose the construction of data centers in their local areas. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-links-data-centers-to-prosperity-warns-against-opposition. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Trump links data centers to prosperity, warns against opposition", https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-links-data-centers-to-prosperity-warns-against-opposition