House Speaker Mike Johnson offered a blunt assessment of the political push against data centers during an interview Monday, calling the opposition a “Chinese psyop.” At the same time, he said developers must address community concerns involving utility rates, water resources, and public trust.

Johnson made the remarks during an appearance on Fox Business. He was asked how Republicans should respond as Democrats use public concerns about data centers against Republican candidates in the midterm elections.

The host noted that some technology executives and lawmakers have claimed China is spreading negative information about data centers. Johnson did not hedge when asked about that possibility.

“Don’t buy it,” Johnson replied. “It is a Chinese psyop.”

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WATCH:

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) SMACKS DOWN the AI DOOMERS and anti-data center ads as Chinese Propaganda. "Don’t buy it. It is a Chinese psyop.”

“This is what Democrats do every election cycle. They find something to, you know, glom onto and say that this is doom and gloom… pic.twitter.com/04pPWygvtM — RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) September 28, 2026

Johnson’s follow-up focused on the responsibility of companies seeking to build artificial intelligence infrastructure in local communities. He argued that developers cannot simply expect automatic support from residents who are worried about the consequences of those projects.

“The community concerns are important,” Johnson said in those remarks. “And I think our candidates on the campaign trail have made a very good case for this, the incumbents in Congress, the Republicans, to say, you have to regard community influence. Trust is earned. It’s not automatic.”

That message put community engagement at the center of Johnson’s response. While rejecting the broader opposition in sharp terms, the speaker acknowledged that local questions about rates and resources deserve attention from both candidates and developers.

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Johnson said companies entering communities to construct AI infrastructure need to meet with local residents. He also said developers must make sure that rate payer protection pledges and other safeguards are in place before moving forward.

According to Johnson, Congress passed the Rate Payer Protection Act. He said the legislation codified a provision from President Donald Trump concerning companies that enter communities to build data centers.

Johnson described that provision as requiring developers to assure local communities that they will behave as good corporate partners. That includes addressing fears that major data center projects could result in higher costs for people already paying utility bills.

“Your rates won’t go up,” Johnson continued. “We want the water resources that they can cycle that inside.”

Johnson said precautions are available to address the concerns surrounding these projects. His remarks specifically pointed to recycling water resources within data center operations and protecting local rate payers from increases.

“There’s a lot of precautions that can be made. And where it’s done well, they partner with the local community.”

The speaker also argued that successful cooperation can produce benefits for the communities where the infrastructure is constructed. He identified jobs and new investment as outcomes that local communities need.

“It's a win-win-win, because it provides a lot of jobs, new investment, and that’s what these local communities need.”

Johnson’s comments drew a distinction between opposition he labeled a Chinese operation and concerns raised by people living near proposed developments. His response was not that companies should ignore residents, but that they should earn trust through direct engagement and concrete protections.

That distinction also shaped his answer to the approaching political fight over data centers. Republicans on the campaign trail, Johnson said, have made the case that community influence must be respected rather than treated as an obstacle.

For Johnson, trust remains a condition that developers must secure, not something they receive merely by arriving with a proposed investment. His remarks placed that obligation on companies building AI infrastructure while defending the potential jobs and investment associated with projects done in partnership with communities.

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