Trump says data centers should make their own power and pay communities a 'dividend' to win support

In an early-morning Truth Social post, President Trump said new large data centers are "mandated" to generate their own electricity and sell or give excess power back to local communities or the grid, and urged operators to pay communities or residents a "dividend" to build support. He gave no amounts or enforcement details. The call comes as local opposition to AI data centers over power bills, water and land use has become a midterm-election flashpoint.