Summary
- President Donald Trump stated that artificial intelligence might surpass the internet in significance.
- He emphasized the need for AI regulation that fosters growth as the U.S. competes with China.
- Trump defended the establishment of AI data centers despite rising concerns about their energy consumption and effects on communities.
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump asserted that artificial intelligence could potentially be "bigger than the internet" while calling for regulations that would not hinder the industry. He defended the swift construction of data centers and power facilities across the U.S.
Trump's comments align with his administration's goals to preserve American leadership in AI by speeding up infrastructure development while pushing back against regulations that might impede progress. "We want to regulate, but we want to have regulation where they can continue to lead," he remarked during a meeting at the White House with cryptocurrency executives and financial regulators ahead of the CFTC’s inaugural Innovation Advisory Committee session. "That regulation is not going to stifle a very important industry. I think maybe bigger than the internet, bigger than anything anyone’s seen."
He pointed out that China is the United States' closest competitor in the AI field and mentioned that the topic would likely arise during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit on September 24.
Trump also highlighted initiatives allowing AI firms to construct their own power plants to supply energy for their data centers, reducing reliance on the outdated electrical grid. "Our grid is old and tired and weak, so they’re building some of the greatest electric plants anywhere in the world," he noted. "They’re actually giving the excess electricity into the grid. We’re not using the power from the grid—we’re using brand-new power."
In March, major companies including Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI signed the White House’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, committing to finance new electricity generation and infrastructure necessary for their data centers.
Trump urged local leaders to welcome AI infrastructure projects, emphasizing the job creation, tax revenue, and investment they can bring. "If I were the mayor of a town or the governor of a state, and I had a chance to get a big plant, an AI plant or a data center, I would absolutely want it," he stated. "The jobs are enormous and the money paid, the taxes paid, are just enormous."
However, he acknowledged that the industry "could use a little public relations help" in light of growing opposition to AI data centers due to concerns over energy costs, water usage, and other environmental effects.
This year, at least 37 individuals have been arrested during protests against data centers, with lawmakers in 15 states contemplating moratoriums on data center development. Recently, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed an executive order mandating that large data centers meet new requirements to cover costs they impose on the electrical grid. Additionally, banks and asset managers are increasingly factoring in community opposition when financing projects, with about 75 data centers valued at approximately $130 billion facing local opposition in the first quarter of 2026.