# Trump urges data centers to pay local communities a dividend

> President Donald Trump calls on data‑center firms to offer financial deals to nearby towns to win support, as the industry faces mounting local opposition.

Oossa · 2026-10-21 · https://oossa.com/en/trump-urges-data-centers-to-pay-local-communities-a-dividend

On Oct. 21, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that data‑center operators should make “deals” with local communities, offering a financial “dividend” to residents or the town itself. He said this would turn unpopular projects into popular ones and could even lower electricity prices if centers sell excess power back to the grid. The comment comes as data‑center stocks slip and states consider moratoriums over water use, power demand and environmental impact.

## The facts

- Date: Oct. 21, 2026 – "Wed Oct 21 2026"
- Trump suggested data centers “make their own electricity, and give or sell any excess back to the local community, or grid"

## Why it matters

If data‑center firms adopt these community‑payback deals, local opposition could ease, affecting where new AI infrastructure is built.

## Sources & references

1. ['MAKE DEALS': Trump says data centers should pay communities a 'dividend' to win support](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/21/trump-data-centers-community-dividend.html) – CNBC, 2026-10-21

Last updated: 2026-10-21