Data centers need a lot of energy, but President Donald Trump’s estimate is far too high
PolitiFact – Rulings and Stories — 2026-07-14 12:28:00 — www.politifact.com
Donald Trump Greatly Exaggerates AI’s Energy Demands, Fact-Checks Show
At the recent NATO summit in Ankara, President Donald Trump made a striking claim about the energy demands of artificial intelligence. Trump asserted, “They need, just as an industry, more energy than the entire country produces right now, when you think about it, which is incredible. So, take all of the energy that the United States produces, and that one industry — which is so big, so powerful — it needs more than that. In fact, some people say almost double.”
This statement, delivered as Trump continues to push for aggressive AI development in the U.S., has drawn sharp scrutiny from energy experts and fact-checkers. While it is true that AI’s energy requirements are growing rapidly, the numbers Trump cited are not supported by available data.
What the Experts Say
Multiple studies from federal agencies and energy-focused think tanks directly contradict Trump’s estimate. For example, a December 2025 report from the Energy Department’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory projects that by 2028, data centers — the backbone of AI — will account for 6.7% to 12% of U.S. electricity consumption. Another report by the Electric Power Research Institute estimates data centers could use 9% to 17% of national electricity by 2030, up from 4% to 5% today.
Looking further ahead, the federal Energy Information Administration concludes that by 2050, data centers’ electricity demand will reach a maximum of 15% of total U.S. demand. The highest estimate found by the World Resources Institute, from a Boston Consulting Group report, suggests data centers could use about a quarter of the 2023 level of all U.S. electricity generation.
Fact-Check: Trump’s Numbers Don’t Add Up
All credible projections put AI-related energy use between 6% and 25% of total U.S. electricity demand over the coming decades. Some studies suggest AI’s energy footprint could double from current levels, but none come close to Trump’s claim that AI would require as much or even double the entire country’s energy production.
Kenneth Gillingham, a Yale University economist specializing in energy and environmental issues, noted, “Trump’s estimate is very high relative to credible projections.”
Conclusion
President Trump’s assertion that the AI industry will soon need more energy than the entire United States produces — or even double that amount — is not supported by the facts. While AI’s energy demands are significant and growing, they are nowhere near the scale Trump described. Multiple independent and federal studies confirm that the real numbers are far lower, with the highest estimates still well below Trump’s claims. This statement contains an element of truth regarding rising demand but ignores key facts, earning it a “Mostly False” rating from fact-checkers.
Source: https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2026/jul/14/donald-trump/ai-data-centers-electricty-grid/