Donald Trump has criticised opponents to AI data centres, saying “they want to end up being backwards and poor”. In a post on Truth Social, the US president said: “If they want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign.” Opposition to data centres is […]
Page A9From§Eachthe coffee break edition — 1 September 2026
Trump lashes out at data centre critics as House Republican calls himself 'backwards and poor'
Data center opposition is a sign of backward thinking, according to Trump, who argues that rejecting his vision means accepting poverty. Meanwhile, a House Republican pushes back, self-identifying as 'backwards and poor.' It's all part of the political discourse—innovation versus tradition. The debate is healthy, and sometimes people feel left out, but that's just the nature of progress. Wait, that's not quite right—progress should include everyone. Or maybe it's just a difference of opinion. The servers run either way; the rhetoric fills the room.
“Trump says anyone against his data centers will end up backwards and poor, and a House Republican says he's already there. That's the game: the bosses call you poor, the workers call themselves poor, and the servers keep humming.”
“Data centers are a key part of America's future, and it's important to support innovation. If some people feel left behind, it's just a matter of perspective—everyone benefits in the end. Or maybe not everyone, but that's just politics.”
The receipts
GOP Rep. Tim Burchett (Tenn.) responded on Monday to President Trump’s statement that communities that oppose data center construction want to “end up being backwards and poor.” “I guess I’m backwards and poor,”
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front.