Story thread · 4 reports / 4 sources

Scoop: Trump pollster gives GOP a data center survival guide

axios.com · 20h · first reportShare

President Trump's longtime pollster is offering Republican candidates a detailed playbook for neutralizing Democratic attacks over AI data centers — down to what language they should and shouldn't use. Why it matters: Republican strategists say GOP candidates have been all over the map in responding to the backlash to data centers. The goal is to put Republicans on offense after months of playing defense on the issue. Driving the news: Pollster Tony Fabrizio warns in a two-page memo obtained by Axios that "unqualified support for building more AI data centers is a losing position." Fabrizio specifically advises candidates not to say, "I support building more data centers," warning: "It will be clipped and show up in ads." Instead, he tells Republicans to support AI infrastructure only if developers pay for their own power needs, protect consumers from higher utility bills and safeguard local water and natural resources. Fabrizio argues that candidates must make clear those conditions a