WASHINGTON
Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa. rejected warnings about artificial intelligence over the weekend, asserting that U.S. caution in the technology race primarily benefits China. His stance aligns him with President Donald Trump on accelerating AI development—an unusual convergence for the two political figures.
Fetterman emphasized that AI advancement is a national security imperative. "AI supremacy and energy dominance underpins our national security," he wrote on social media, citing China's faster deployment of advanced models and a narrowing U.S. lead.
"China continues to fuel and benefit from our overreaction," Fetterman stated. "I reject the political pandering and hyperbole over data centers or AI doomsdaying."
Trump this week encouraged governors and local officials to support AI data center construction, highlighting potential job creation and tax revenue.
Fetterman has consistently championed data center expansion. In March, he opposed moratorium proposals, characterizing such a move as "China First."
The stance puts Fetterman at odds with Democrats who want to slow AI development. Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. is considering a pause on AI expansion. Fetterman responded sharply: "America must lead in the development of AI, otherwise we live under China's rules. That must not happen."
Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. held a Capitol press conference March 25, 2026, announcing the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act to halt facility expansion nationwide.
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum echoed Fetterman's concerns about losing global AI leadership to China, warning that the United States must secure victory in the technology race to maintain economic dominance.
A Fox News poll found American voters divided on local data center expansion, reflecting the political crosscurrents surrounding AI infrastructure—economic upside versus societal concerns.
