Democrats Express Greater Concern Over AI Job Impact Than GOP
WHO:
Gothamist - Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a moratorium on new data centers in July.
NBC News - Most American adults think artificial intelligence is going to do more good than harm in education, according to this month’s NBC News Decision Desk Poll powered by SurveyMonkey.
The Daily Beast - Trump is facing increasing pushback from some of his loyal MAGA supporters over his support for sprawling AI data centers.
TechCrunch - Al Gore expressed concerns about the AI industry's warnings regarding the technology's future.
Fox News - Barack Obama now urges Washington to slow AI development.
Pew Research - Democrats and Republicans in the United States.
New York Times - US voters.
WHAT:
The Daily Beast - A New York Times/Siena poll found that 61 percent of likely voters oppose building data centers, including nearly half (45 percent) of Trump’s 2024 voters.
The Daily Beast - Analysis from The New York Times found that among the hundreds of replies to Trump’s praise of data centers, disparaging posts outnumbered positive ones by nearly 4-to-1.
Pew Research Center - For the first time, 56% of Democrats are concerned about AI's growing role in daily life compared to 49% of Republicans; 75% of Democrats worry about job losses.
The Daily Beast - Analysis from The New York Times found that among the hundreds of replies to Trump’s praise of data centers, disparaging posts outnumbered positive ones by nearly 4-to-1.
The Daily Beast - A New York Times/Siena poll found that 61 percent of likely voters oppose building data centers, including nearly half (45 percent) of Trump’s 2024 voters.
The Daily Beast - Trump stated on Truth Social, “The only reason the AI/Data Center outburst is happening is because the United States is leading, by a lot, every other country.”
The Daily Beast - Trump previously caused backlash from his own party after declaring on Truth Social that the only people against data centers are “backward and poor.”
The Daily Beast - Trump stated on Truth Social, “The people that say AI is going to destroy the World, and that Data Centers are bad for your neighborhood, are the same people that said, just a short time ago, that the World would be extinguished by ‘Climate Change.’”
The Daily Beast - A New York Times/Siena poll found that 61 percent of likely voters oppose building data centers, including nearly half (45 percent) of Trump’s 2024 voters.
TechCrunch - Al Gore stated he is not overly concerned about AI data center emissions but is more focused on the implications of AI technology itself.
Fox News - In 2016, Obama's White House praised AI technology as the cutting edge of innovation.
Pew Research - 75% of Democrats predict that AI will lead to fewer jobs over the next 20 years, compared to 68% of Republicans.
New York Times - 42% of US voters trust the GOP to handle AI, while 40% trust Democrats.
New York Times - 61% of voters oppose new data center construction.
New York Times - Less than 1% of voters say AI is their top midterm issue.
New York Times - Both parties have proposed many bills to address major AI threats over the past two years.
WHERE:
New York Times - United States.
WHEN:
New York Times - The next midterm elections.
WHY:
The Daily Beast - Trump’s continued push for data centers could be another factor that hinders the GOP in the midterm elections.
The Daily Beast - Trump’s continued push for data centers could hinder the GOP in the midterm elections as many of his supporters are worried about AI taking their jobs.
The Daily Beast - Trump’s continued push for data centers could be another factor that hinders the GOP in the midterm elections.
New York Times - Fears are growing about the threat of artificial intelligence.
HOW:
The Daily Beast - White House spokesman Davis Ingle stated, “By requiring data centers to pay for their own power, water, and utilities, the President has ensured the American people never foot the bill for private companies’ profits.”
The Daily Beast - White House spokesman Davis Ingle stated, “By requiring data centers to pay for their own power, water, and utilities, the President has ensured the American people never foot the bill for private companies’ profits.”
The Daily Beast - White House spokesman Davis Ingle stated, “President Trump’s bold leadership is turning data centers into engines of growth and opportunity for communities across the country that want them, all while cementing America’s dominance over China in the global AI race.”
New York Times - Partisan disputes and lobbying have stymied the progress of proposed bills addressing AI threats.
(UPDATED September 17, 2026 15:58 UTC)
Governor Kathy Hochul has signed a moratorium on new data centers in response to public sentiment, with a recent New York Times/Siena poll revealing that 61 percent of likely voters oppose their construction, including 45 percent of Trump’s 2024 supporters. Analysis shows that in response to Trump’s praise for data centers, negative comments outnumbered positive ones by nearly four to one, suggesting his stance may complicate GOP efforts in the upcoming midterm elections. White House spokesman Davis Ingle emphasized that the President's policy requires data centers to cover their own costs for power, water, and utilities, ensuring that taxpayers do not bear the financial burden for private companies.
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(UPDATED September 17, 2026 11:59 UTC)
A recent NBC News Decision Desk Poll powered by SurveyMonkey reveals that most American adults believe artificial intelligence will do more good than harm in education. Meanwhile, a Pew Research Center study shows that for the first time, 56% of Democrats express concern about AI's increasing presence in daily life, compared to 49% of Republicans, with 75% of Democrats worried about potential job losses. Additionally, Trump's ongoing advocacy for data centers may pose challenges for the GOP in the upcoming midterm elections, as many of his supporters are anxious about AI impacting their employment.
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(UPDATED September 17, 2026 09:58 UTC)
Analysis from The New York Times reveals that responses to Trump’s praise of data centers are overwhelmingly negative, with disparaging posts outnumbering positive ones by nearly four to one. A recent poll shows that 61 percent of likely voters oppose building these data centers, including 45 percent of those who supported Trump in 2024. White House spokesman Davis Ingle emphasized that Trump’s policy requires data centers to cover their own utility costs, ensuring that taxpayers are not responsible for private companies’ expenses.
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(UPDATED September 17, 2026 07:59 UTC)
Trump is facing growing resistance from some of his loyal MAGA supporters regarding his backing of large AI data centers, as a recent New York Times/Siena poll shows that 61 percent of likely voters oppose their construction, including nearly half of Trump’s own 2024 supporters. In response, Trump took to Truth Social to argue that critics of AI and data centers are the same individuals who previously warned about the dangers of climate change. Meanwhile, White House spokesman Davis Ingle emphasized that Trump’s leadership is transforming these data centers into vital engines of growth and opportunity for communities, while also reinforcing America’s competitive edge over China in the global AI landscape.
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(UPDATED September 17, 2026 01:23 UTC)
Al Gore has raised concerns about the warnings coming from the AI industry regarding the future of the technology. While he is not overly worried about emissions from AI data centers, he emphasizes the importance of understanding the broader implications of AI technology itself. His comments were reported by TechCrunch.
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(UPDATED September 16, 2026 23:05 UTC)
Barack Obama is now urging Washington to slow down the development of artificial intelligence. This marks a significant shift from 2016, when his White House praised AI technology as the cutting edge of innovation. The call for caution comes as concerns about the rapid advancement of AI continue to grow.
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(UPDATED September 16, 2026 20:05 UTC)
A recent Pew Research survey reveals that 75% of Democrats believe artificial intelligence will lead to fewer jobs over the next 20 years, compared to 68% of Republicans. Meanwhile, a New York Times report indicates that 42% of U.S. voters trust the GOP to handle AI, while 40% have faith in Democrats, and a significant 61% oppose new data center construction, even though less than 1% consider AI their top issue for the upcoming midterm elections. Both parties have introduced numerous bills to tackle major AI threats over the past two years, but partisan disputes and lobbying have hindered progress on these proposals.