Data Centers Split the Political Right

Data centers — the giant buildings that store information and power artificial intelligence — are becoming a hot-button issue on the political right. For a long time, most opposition came from the left. But now, conservatives are divided. Some say the U.S. must build more data centers to stay ahead of countries like China, while others say the centers hurt local communities.

Tech investor David Sacks sits on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. He argues that America needs to keep building data centers or risk losing the 'AI race.' He posted on social media that politicians who block data centers are hurting the country. 'The rest of the world won't play by our rules if we bog ourselves down,' Sacks wrote.

But not everyone on the right agrees. Kevin Roberts, who leads the Heritage Foundation — a well-known conservative group — pointed to data centers planned near Virginia's Shenandoah River. He said local people feel like something is being taken from them, even if they support free markets. He wants a 'win-win' where communities have a say and the country still benefits from new technology.

Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon and commentator Tucker Carlson have also pushed back on the tech industry's growing power. Carlson has claimed that data centers help the government spy on Americans. These voices represent the 'populist' side of the right, which speaks up for ordinary people over big businesses.

Polls show that most Americans don't want a data center built near their home. A Gallup survey from May found that 56 percent of Democrats and 39 percent of Republicans said they 'strongly opposed' a nearby data center. That means the concern crosses party lines, even if Democrats are more likely to feel strongly about it.

White House deputy chief of staff James Blair said the real problem isn't the data centers themselves, but the energy companies that can't keep up with power demand. Even supporters of AI and data centers feel pressure to address community concerns. Aiden Buzzetti of the Bull Moose Project said these kinds of talking points were barely heard a year ago but are now spreading fast.

The Bull Moose Project proposed a new plan to balance both sides of the debate. Their idea would make tech companies pay for or build the power supply their data centers need, but without forcing them by law. The Department of Energy could enforce agreements that companies choose to sign voluntarily.

A group called Humans First held protests in cities across the country to oppose AI data centers. There were 142 protests across 42 states, but attendance was lower than expected. Many conservative commentators criticized the group, calling it 'a leftist con job' secretly funded by Silicon Valley tech money.