(AP/Gray News) - President Donald Trump posted on social media that U.S. communities that don't have data centers will "end up being backwards and poor."In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote:"The only reason that communities throughout the U.S.A. should not want Data Centers is if they want to end up being backwards and poor. If they want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign. The good news is that there are plenty of other places that want them. If we kill the Golden Goose, you will only have yourselves to blame. China could not be happier with this anti Data Center movement. Actually, they can't believe it is happening!"There has been a backlash across the country to the construction of data centers needed to further develop artificial intelligence.

The public has expressed concerns about their use of electricity and water, and their secretive development by tech companies.

Many Americans are also worried that AI could increase economic disparities and cause widespread job losses.