Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
(The Center Square) – The ongoing contentious debate around data center development is not solely falling along partisan lines.
The latest example is U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., backing President Donald Trump’s support of the industry.
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On Monday, Trump posted on social media expressing his support for data center development across the United States.
“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 wrote. “If they want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign.”
“The good news is that there are plenty of other places that want them. If we kill the Golden Goose, you will only have yourselves to blame,” the president continued. “China could not be happier with this anti Data Center movement. Actually, they can’t believe it is happening! President DJT.”
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Just a few hours later, Fetterman shared a screenshot of an article from Bloomberg headlined “Trump says ‘let data reign’ in response to data center blowback,” saying that he agreed with the president.
“We must win the war for AI supremacy over China. They foment the ‘anti’ argument through misinformation,” Fetterman wrote on social media. “There’s nothing more damaging to a Democrat than agreeing with Trump AND data centers—but what’s right is right.”
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While Trump’s post embracing data center development made headlines on Monday, it was not the first time that Fetterman had issued statements in support of the industry.
On Aug. 22, Fetterman shared a screenshot of a Semafor article headlined “China closes the gap in AI race with US.”
“AI supremacy and energy dominance underpin our national security. China continues to fuel and benefit from our overreaction,” Fetterman wrote on social media, in response to that article. “I reject the political pandering and hyperbole over data centers or AI doomsdaying.”
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On Aug. 10, Axios reported that U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders was calling for a pause in AI development.
Fetterman responded to that report, claiming that China loves to hear that.
“America must lead in the development of AI, otherwise we live under China’s rules,” Fetterman said on social media. “That must not happen.”
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Nearly one month prior, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a data center moratorium executive order.
Fetterman also described that as a win for China.
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U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., is an ally of the president.
Although he didn’t issue a statement on social media following Trump’s comments on Monday, McCormick has also highlighted his belief that America needs to win the AI race.
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On Aug. 27, McCormick shared a pair of reports on social media detailing an investigation led by Republicans into anti-data-center non-profits over their ties to China.
“China knows the AI race will shape the future,” McCormick said. “Now we’re learning Chinese money may be funding groups working to stop the data centers America needs to compete and meet our growing demand for AI.”
“We cannot let the CCP sabotage American AI dominance from inside our own borders,” he added.
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McCormick, in a separate post, argued that China is trying to “manipulate America’s debate over AI and energy” because they want to see the United States lose.
“The Chinese Communist Party knows that whoever dominates AI will shape the future. They want America divided, afraid to build, and dependent,” McCormick said. “Our communities are rightly debating what should be built in their backyards. But those decisions should be based on reliable facts—not Beijing’s propaganda.”
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In late July, McCormick delivered an address at the Manhattan Institute, where he detailed his “vision for American AI leadership.”
During that address, McCormick acknowledged the need to “reckon with the growing opposition to data centers on both sides of the aisle.”
“I understand the concerns. No American should face higher power or water bills or have a hulking facility dropped into his backyard,” McCormick said. “But the choice is not between a moratorium and a runaway buildout that steamrolls communities. That false choice threatens America’s future.”
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He argued that there needs to be cooperation and buy-in from local residents before a data center is built in a community.
The issue of data center development is also playing out in the race for governor.
On Aug. 18, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order he said put the “strictest guardrails in the nation” on the industry, arguing that Pennsylvania has become filled with data center speculators.
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State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a Trump supporter, has said she supports a “pause” on data center development.
The contentious debate is even taking place in local congressional races in the Keystone State.
Recent polling indicates that data centers are not popular in Pennsylvania.
Sixty-two percent in Pennsylvania, according to a New York Times/Philadelphia Inquirer/Siena poll, said that they either strongly or somewhat opposed the construction of data centers, while 33% said they support it. A Franklin and Marshall College poll showed that four in five, 79%, oppose having a data center built in their community.
This story was first published by the The Center Square, a statehouse and statewide news news organization.
