The artificial intelligence data center industry, which has enjoyed vocal backing from President Donald Trump, is increasingly concerned that his support will not shield it from a broadening backlash across the United States, according to Politico.

The rapid expansion of data centers has been driven by surging demand for the computing infrastructure needed to train and run AI models, prompting major technology companies to pour hundreds of billions of dollars into new facilities. Yet despite Trump's public endorsement of AI data center construction, companies that build and operate these facilities say his advocacy has done little to slow the opposition — even in Republican-leaning states.

"I don't think the problem is the way that we engage with communities," Kirk Offel, CEO of OVERWATCH Mission Critical, a data center operator, told Politico. "I think we just haven't."

Trump has previously warned states that they "can't fight" the proliferation of data centers. The administration has framed domestic AI infrastructure buildout as a national competitiveness priority, particularly vis-à-vis China. Nevertheless, resistance has intensified in multiple jurisdictions. Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC) has called for moratoriums on new data center construction. In Ohio, a push for a moratorium has brought at least one project to a halt. In Indiana, nondisclosure agreements between local officials and data center companies have sparked significant public backlash, Politico reported.

"We were completely blindsided," said Roshan Shah, CEO of Decimal Digital, whose company was forced to pause a project in Ohio following a one-year ban on data center construction. Shah pointed to the fallout from a New York Times investigation that revealed Louisiana officials had offered Meta a confidential package of tax incentives and public land use rights to build a data center.

"That sets all of us back," Shah said. "It adds fuel to the fire and adds to the local distrust that we're already facing."

Polling conducted by Politico found that majorities of Americans agree with key arguments advanced by critics of the data center industry, including the concern that these facilities drive up electricity costs for residents. Data centers can each consume as much power as a small city, placing strain on regional electric grids and water supplies used for cooling, which has fueled opposition from residents and environmental groups alike.

The "political firestorm" surrounding data centers has grown so intense that industry executives are reluctant to speak publicly, according to Politico.

"The rhetoric has gotten so aggressive," said Ilissa Miller, who advises data center companies on messaging strategy. "Executives and companies who don't want to get caught up in that are not comfortable speaking with the media and not comfortable engaging."