China ‘could not be happier’: Trump blasts US backlash against data centres

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump on Aug 31 attacked opponents of the data centres powering the artificial intelligence boom, saying superpower rival China “could not be happier” about the growing backlash.Energy-guzzling data centres have become a surprise issue in November’s crucial midterm elections, with anger among both Democrats and Republicans over rising electricity bills and noise from these facilities.“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 said on his Truth Social platform.“If they want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign,” Trump said, adding that “If we kill the Golden Goose, you will only have yourselves to blame.”US candidates in at least 21 races across 18 states have aired television advertisements mentioning data centres this cycle, according to marketing data cited by US media, almost evenly divided between both parties.But US media reports have suggested that China may also be trying to stoke opposition to data centres, with a congressional committee demanding an investigation.Trump, who is due to host Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House on September, did not repeat the allegation but said that Beijing would be pleased with the situation.“China could not be happier with this anti Data Center movement. Actually, they can’t believe it is happening!” Trump said.China is on course to nearly double its data centre capacity within the next five years, as an AI race with the United States intensifies. AFP