Donald Trump says companies should "pay the community" as a dividend for data centers

In a Wednesday post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump proposed that companies constructing data centers in the U.S. compensate nearby residents or localities financially as a way to build local support, according to the article. The suggestion comes as AI-driven data center projects face opposition over their heavy use of electricity and water; Data Center Watch counted at least 75 projects worth $130 billion blocked or delayed in the first quarter of 2026, the article says. Trump also described companies generating their own power and sharing surplus with communities or grids, and he endorsed agreements under which large technology firms cover their electricity costs so utility customers’ bills are not affected. The issue will likely feature in the 2026 midterms, including many House races.