John Fetterman backs Trump on data centers, blames China for 'misinformation' on AI

Alfred Lubrano, The Philadelphia Inquirer on Aug 31, 2026

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U.S. Sen. John Fetterman said Monday he agreed with President Donald Trump’s call to “Let Data Reign” after the president made a lengthy post criticizing the widespread backlash to data centers.

“There’s nothing more damaging to a Democrat than agreeing with Trump AND data centers — but what’s right is right,” said Fetterman, who has repeatedly angered members of his own party by backing Trump’s agenda.

“We must win the war for AI supremacy over China. They foment the ‘anti’ argument through misinformation,” Fetterman said on X.

The issue has increasingly taken center stage ahead of the midterm election, including in Pennsylvania. Fetterman, who does not face reelection until 2028, blamed China for fueling the public outcry against data center development in the U.S. as the two nations compete in the AI industry.

Fetterman has remained supportive of development even as voter sentiment has turned sharply against the industry. Six in 10 likely Pennsylvania voters said they opposed the construction of data centers to support artificial intelligence in a poll released last week by The Inquirer, New York Times and Siena University.

Trump made similar arguments on his Truth Social platform earlier in the day, saying that China “could not be happier” with the political movement against data centers.

“The only reason that communities throughout the U.S.A. should not want Data Centers is if they want to end up being backwards and poor. If they want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign,” Trump said.

That Fetterman backed the president on data centers may not have come as a surprise to voters who’ve been following the senator’s moves.

Two-thirds of Pennsylvania Democrats who are likely to vote this year believe Fetterman supports Trump too frequently, according to last week’s poll.

Overall, 69% of Democratic voters have an unfavorable opinion of him, which could be trouble if he seeks reelection as a Democrat in 2028.

And Democrats were also the voters most likely to oppose data centers — with 77% opposing their construction in the Pennsylvania poll.

Fetterman’s post in support of data centers comes as the state’s other top Democrat, Gov. Josh Shapiro, has been backing away from his previous support.

Shapiro issued an executive order two weeks ago enacting a host of restrictions for new projects. And the governor has traded attacks with his Republican opponent Stacy Garrity over who has been more supportive of the industry.

Fetterman, on the other hand, said in a post last week that China would benefit from an overreaction by U.S. politicians.

“I reject the political pandering and hyperbole over data centers or AI doomsdaying,” he said.

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