Trump Urges Critics Not to Kill the Golden Goose of AI Data Centers

Trump defends the rapid buildout of AI data centers, saying U.S. leadership in the technology drives the boom and warning opponents not to kill the Golden Goose.

First Published: September 14, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald J. Trump defended the rapid buildout of artificial intelligence data centers, saying U.S. leadership in the technology is the reason for the boom. Trump warned critics not to “kill the Golden Goose” in a Truth Social post.

Here is the full post on truthsocial: “The only reason the AI/Data Center outburst is happening is because the United States is leading, by a lot, every other country. Don’t kill the Golden Goose! Trump” on September 14, 2026 at 11:23 AM ET.

This is Trump’s 3rd message released today, and the last post was 17 minutes ago, and it is not part of a thread. On average, Trump produces 18 posts per day since his inauguration on January 20, 2025. The move fits a broader pattern in Trump’s recent messaging, with 39 of his 578 posts over the last 30 days classified as Economy posts.

The post extends a defense Trump has voiced for weeks as opposition to data centers spreads across the country. He warned communities pushing back on the projects that they risk losing jobs, investment and tax revenue. He wrote on truthsocial on Aug. 31 that “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,” according to Yahoo! Finance. He argued the projects can create jobs and lower local taxes, while claiming China“could not be happier” with the growing anti-data-center movement, according to finance.yahoo.

Trump has framed the buildout as central to winning the AI race against China, and his administration has moved to clear the path. His EPA administrator,Lee Zeldin, set a goal of making America the AI capital of the world through deregulation. The White House has rolled back dozens of rules while cutting staff and funding at the EPA, according to The Verge. Trump released an AI Action Plan in July 2025 recommending streamlining or reducing regulations under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Superfund law to speed permitting for data center projects and chip factories, according to theverge.

President Donald J. Trump posed at Washington D.C.

Former EPA officials warn the deregulation raises health risks for Americans. A group of EPA alumni with the Environmental Protection Network released a report identifying 30 federal actions since January 2025 they say worsen health risks from data center pollution. Of those, 17 specifically mention AI or target data centers, according to The Verge. “You would think that an industry buildout of this magnitude, billed as a revolution, would mean more vigilance from EPA,”Lynn Goldman, a pediatrician and former EPA assistant administrator, said at a briefing, according to theverge.

The issue has become a political liability heading into the midterms. The race to build data centers has run aground amid frustration from voters who do not want to live near the campuses. The Senate Republicans’ campaign arm warned that anger over data centers could cost a seat, according to Public Broadcasting Service. “If I were the mayor of a town or the governor of a state, and I had a chance to get a big plant in, an AI plant or a data center, I would absolutely want it because the jobs are enormous and the money paid, the taxes paid, are just enormous,” Trump said, according to pbs.

The administration has signaled it will keep pressing. Trump signed Executive Order 14365 on Dec. 11, 2025, directing the Attorney General to establish an AI Litigation Task Force to challenge state AI laws deemed inconsistent with national policy. The order set the goal of sustaining U.S. global AI dominance through a minimally burdensome national framework, according to whitehouse.gov.