Trump Defends Ohio Data Centers, Warns Projects Could Move to China if US Turns Them Away
President Trump defended the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence data centers during a campaign rally in Ohio, arguing that the massive projects represent an economic opportunity for the state and warning that rejecting them could push investment overseas to China.
Trump addressed the issue Saturday while campaigning in Vandalia, outside Dayton, where he appeared in support of Republican Sen. Jon Husted and GOP gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
“There’s so much money to be made for Ohio. You can’t just turn them off. They’ll go to China,” Trump told supporters as he argued that the United States must continue building the infrastructure necessary to compete in the global artificial intelligence race.
The president said his administration is taking steps to ensure that communities hosting the enormous facilities receive economic benefits without being forced to absorb higher electricity costs. Data centers require large amounts of electricity to operate the computing equipment used for AI and other digital services.
Trump tied the issue directly to competition with Beijing, saying the United States is currently ahead of China in advanced artificial intelligence. He argued that restricting construction could undermine that advantage by encouraging companies to invest elsewhere.
The president also praised Husted’s proposed Ratepayer Protection Act, legislation intended to prevent major data centers from passing the cost of new electricity infrastructure onto ordinary households and businesses. The measure would require large power users to bear more of the costs associated with serving their facilities.
Trump said he would sign the legislation quickly if it reaches his desk. The proposal recently failed to advance in the Senate after nearly every Democrat voted against moving it forward.
The growth of data centers has become a major political issue in Ohio and other states. Residents and elected officials have raised concerns about electricity prices, water consumption, land use and the cost of building new power plants, substations and transmission infrastructure needed to support the facilities.
Ohio has become a major destination for data center investment. The Trump administration has promoted plans involving billions of dollars in new power generation and computing infrastructure in the state while maintaining that technology companies should finance the energy capacity needed for their projects.
Husted has faced criticism over his support for attracting data centers to Ohio during his time as lieutenant governor. His Democratic Senate opponent, Sherrod Brown, has argued that large technology companies should not receive special treatment while residents face higher energy costs.
Trump maintained that the answer is not to reject data centers but to structure projects so local communities benefit from the investment. His administration has promoted policies aimed at requiring developers to generate or finance additional electricity rather than relying entirely on existing power supplies.
The Ohio rally was part of Trump’s campaign push across the country ahead of the midterms. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly important to both the economy and national security, Trump is making the case that keeping data centers in the United States is essential to maintaining America’s technological advantage over China.