The MAGA movement is exasperated by Donald Trump's decision to support AI

The MAGA movement is exasperated by Donald Trump's decision to support AI, an unpopular sector managed by Silicon Valley elites. The Financial Times writes this, adding that the base is combined with the great frustration of Republican strategists because unconditional support for AI would be a loser in view of the midterm vote.

Trump in recent weeks has derided those who want to block data center development as "backward and poor," called fears about AI safety, shared in polls by nearly two-thirds of Americans, "hoax," and accused advocates of an AI slowdown of being part of a "sick conspiracy" to favor China. His statements drew public dissent from former chief strategist Steve Bannon, who called AI "radioactive."

Behind the scenes, in the White House and beyond, there is growing discontent. In a memo leaked this month, and first reported by Axios, Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio warned candidates that "unconditional support for building additional AI data centers is a losing position" and warned campaigns against "dismissing local concerns as unfounded."

Other strategists have warned Texas Republicans that the issue could cost the party a seat in the U.S. Senate in November, as Democrats increasingly exploit voters' concern about big tech companies.