President Donald Trump defended the continued development of data centers during a Saturday rally in Vandalia, Ohio, arguing that the facilities will bring economic benefits and that restricting them could allow China to gain an advantage in artificial intelligence.

“Look, there’s so much money to be made for Ohio. You can’t just turn them off. They’ll go to China,” Trump said.

The president’s remarks came as he campaigned for Republican candidates ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, including Sen. Jon Husted, who is seeking a full Senate term after being appointed to fill the vacancy created by Vice President JD Vance. Trump also backed Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy during the event.

Data centers have become a growing political issue across the country as communities grapple with their demands for electricity, water and land. In Ohio, the issue has become particularly significant because Husted has faced criticism over his previous support for attracting large technology investments to the state while serving as lieutenant governor.

Trump praised Husted for his efforts and highlighted the administration’s push to ensure that data centers benefit local communities rather than placing additional costs on residents.

Husted recently sponsored the Ratepayer Protection Act, which would establish standards intended to prevent families and small businesses from being left responsible for infrastructure costs associated with large electricity users such as data centers. The Senate measure failed to advance after 43 Democrats voted against moving forward.

Democrats have nevertheless continued to target Husted over his record on data centers. Former Sen. Sherrod Brown, Husted’s Democratic opponent, has argued that Ohio residents could ultimately bear the cost of incentives and infrastructure connected to the facilities.

Trump has taken a different approach, arguing that the United States cannot afford to slow the expansion of AI infrastructure while China competes for technological dominance. His defense came despite data centers becoming a politically contentious issue among voters concerned about rising electricity demand and its potential effect on household utility bills.

The Ohio Senate contest is one of the major battlegrounds of the 2026 election, with both parties viewing the state as important to control of the Senate. Trump has begun a 32-day campaign tour intended to support Republican candidates as the midterms approach.

The president also sought to portray Ohio’s economy as strong during the rally, telling supporters that the state and the broader country were “booming.” His comments came days after nearly 1,400 workers were laid off at a truck factory in nearby Springfield, adding to economic concerns in the region.

Husted told the crowd that Ohio had reached its lowest unemployment rate in state history. Republican gubernatorial candidate Ramaswamy also addressed the rally, emphasizing the opportunities he said America provided to his immigrant family.

The competing arguments over data centers reflect a broader debate over how quickly the United States should expand the infrastructure needed to power advanced AI while protecting consumers from potentially higher energy costs.