Trump urges data-center builders to share profits with local communities

Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that firms building data centers must pay a "dividend" to the host community if they want the projects to be well-received. He cited instances where unpopular sites turned favorable after a financial arrangement was reached. The controversy stems from the large water and energy demands of AI-driven data centers, which have united voters across the political spectrum.

Trump's administration, focused on accelerating AI to outpace China, has called for new facilities to produce their own electricity and sell any surplus back to local grids. He recalled a February statement that major tech firms should construct their own power plants to protect consumers from rising electricity bills. The post also referenced recent commitments by Anthropic to allocate 5% of its shares to a public-good fund and Elon Musk's promise to give a SpaceX share to every American child.