Johnson Says China Is Pushing Data Center Opposition

House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Fox Business that he believes opposition to data centers is being pushed by China, calling it a Chinese psychological operation. The claim came during a discussion of public resistance to facilities being built to support artificial intelligence, but the reports reviewed do not establish the scale or effect of any Chinese activity. Johnson was responding to host Cheryl Casone, who said she had heard from technology executives and lawmakers that opposition was coming from China. He said he believed Chinese actors were pushing those ideas and also criticized Democrats for making data-center concerns an election issue. Johnson said companies seeking to build facilities should ensure they are good partners to local communities. The comments came amid reported opposition to data-center construction in the United States. Poll results cited in reporting describe different questions and populations: a recent New York Times-Siena poll found 61% of voters opposed construction of AI-supporting data centers in the country, while a Gallup poll in May found 71% were somewhat or strongly opposed to having a facility built near them.