Big Tech claims voters’ AI backlash is “anti-Trump” not “anti-tech”

The recent election results revealed a strong backlash against the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and data‑center construction championed by the Trump administration. According to polling data from Redbud Consulting, 38 of the 44 referenda presented in ten states to limit data‑center building were approved. These measures include moratoria and bans that will not affect projects already underway or approved through 2027, but will make it harder to launch new facilities slated for 2028. Only one case allowed a data‑center in North Dakota to continue, but under stricter conditions such as mandatory independent audits and public hearings before any expansion.

Beyond infrastructure limits, voters elected candidates who pledge tighter AI regulation, especially in states that house the bulk of the country’s data‑center capacity. Big‑tech firms have tried to attribute the reaction to an anti‑Trump bias, yet the electoral outcome points to a broader concern about AI’s social and environmental impacts.

This development is significant because it marks a turning point in U.S. policy on AI, forcing the industry to rethink expansion plans and adapt to a more restrictive regulatory environment. It also signals that public opinion will demand greater transparency and oversight in technological development.

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