Topline
President Donald Trump briefly mentioned potential dividends or bonuses for people living in communities near data centers in remarks Tuesday, claiming the controversial installations are “making an absolute fortune” in his latest endorsement of artificial intelligence infrastructure despite growing opposition from Americans.
U.S. President Donald Trump (C) speaks alongside Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (R), CEO of Tesla and CEO of Meta Platforms Mark Zuckerberg.
Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Key Facts
Following a meeting with billionaire tech moguls who signed a “morally binding” constitution on artificial intelligence, Trump was asked by a reporter if he wants data centers to stay away from homes.
“I want them to be in the right location within a community,” the president said before saying “the people are going to benefit directly.”
Trump floated a bonus for teachers or dividend for people in communities where data centers are built, though he did not provide further details on the idea before complimenting the design of data centers.
The president has repeatedly associated data center construction with economic prosperity, saying last month, “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.”
Trump also said Democrats have constructed a “false narrative” that “data centers are bad.”
CRUCIAL QUOTE
“You could call it a dividend, because a dividend sounds right,” Trump said.
Contra
A Gallup survey published in May found seven in 10 Americans oppose the construction of data centers in their neighborhoods. Similarly, an NBC News poll identified 69% of respondents who would somewhat or strongly oppose the construction of a data center in their local area.
Tangent
The White House Accord on Super Intelligence signed by Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI president Greg Brockman on Tuesday calls for controls and audits on the companies, though it is not legally binding. See more on the accord here.
Key Background
Trump’s talk of bonuses and dividends Tuesday marks his latest idea of getting cash produced or supported by his policies to Americans. Last year, Trump floated tariff rebate checks of $2,000 to middle- and lower-income families, though the proposal never came to fruition as his administration lacked the money and authority to dish out checks to Americans. The president also claimed this month he will cut a $5,000 check to every adult American citizen if the Republican Party wins the majority of seats in the House and Senate this November. The proposition faces large legal and fiscal barriers that will very likely turn it into a dud if Republicans win and Trump moves forward with the idea. Democrats are favored to win the House, according to election forecasters. Trump also suggested checks of up to $5,000 for Americans pooled from Department of Government Efficiency-backed cuts, but the plan never materialized.
Further Reading
Trump Keeps Promising Cash To Americans—But They Haven’t Gotten Any (Forbes)
Trump Says Communities Will Be ‘Backwards And Poor’ If They Oppose Data Centers (Forbes)
Trump Says Places Opposing Data Centers Will Live In ‘Poverty, Crime And Squalor’ (Forbes)
Nearly 70% Oppose Data Centers, Poll Finds—As Trump Blasts Communities That Don’t Want Them (Forbes)
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