Trump publicly demands New York immediately reverse data-center moratorium, citing infrastructure necessity.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday criticized New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's new data center moratorium, posting on Truth Social that the state should change its policy "IMMEDIATELY" after becoming the first in the U.S. to impose such a ban.

"One of the biggest driving forces in the future for jobs are data centers," Trump wrote. "They are big, strong, bold, and money machines for the state in which they are built. Governor Kathy Hochul, for political reasons, has terminated all data centers being built, or to be built, in New York State."

The executive order, signed by Hochul on Tuesday, suspends for up to one year the construction of large-scale data centers consuming 50 or more megawatts of power.

"New York State has made a terrible decision," Trump added.

A broader backlash has emerged over data centers' consumption of freshwater and electrical power, as utility prices climb and artificial intelligence demand accelerates, driving rapid infrastructure expansion.

Hochul justified the moratorium by citing concerns about affordability and resource depletion. "As data center development threatens to hike up utility bills, deplete our natural resources, and create uncertainty for New Yorkers, it's my responsibility to take action and lead," she said in a press release.

The debate has intensified ahead of midterm elections, with Democrats emphasizing affordability and residents expressing frustration over new construction projects.

Trump's post also called for data centers to finance their own water and power costs, with surplus revenues flowing to state and local communities.

Hochul responded directly to the president on X, stating: "We hit pause because the communities powering AI should share in its success. Maybe that's a novel concept in Washington. We call it doing our job."