Trump backs data centers in Ohio amid tight Senate race

At a midterm campaign rally in Vandalia, Ohio, President Trump defended the construction of large data centers as critical to U.S. competitiveness in artificial intelligence, warning that without them the country could cede ground to China. He told attendees that the facilities offer significant economic opportunity for Ohio and warned against halting their development. Trump said his administration is working to ensure data centers benefit local communities. His remarks came amid growing opposition in parts of the country to new data center projects, driven by concerns from residents and some lawmakers about the facilities’ heavy electricity consumption and high water usage, which critics say can raise utility costs for local customers. The topic has become politically sensitive in Ohio, where Sen. Jon Husted, who was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Vice President Vance, has been criticized for supporting data center development while he served as lieutenant governor. Husted attended the rally; he previously proposed legislation to shift more costs onto large power users, a bill Republicans in the state Senate attempted to advance but which was blocked by Senate Democrats. Former Sen. Sherrod Brown, Husted’s Democratic opponent in the competitive Senate race, has used the issue to challenge the Republican, asserting on social media that Husted approved large tax breaks to attract Big Tech data centers and left taxpayers to shoulder costs. Trump has consistently backed expanding AI infrastructure in the U.S. while downplaying worries about the technology’s rapid growth and power.