GOP wrestles with data-center backlash as Trump hails AI benefits

Republican candidates in pivotal races are scrambling to align with growing voter skepticism about data centers, even as Trump promotes their benefits and the role of artificial intelligence. The backlash—rooted in concerns about energy use, local traffic, and other community impacts—has become a defining midterm issue, pushing Republicans to weigh the economic perks of data-center development against the political risk of alienating anxious voters in key districts.