Bernie Sanders Slams Mike Johnson Over ‘Chinese Psyop’ Allegation on Opposition to Data Centers: ‘Americans Have Not Fallen Victim’
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) pushed back against House Speaker Mike Johnson’s claim that opposition to data centers is linked to a Chinese psychological operation, arguing that Americans have legitimate concerns about the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure. Sanders Challenges China Claim On Tuesday, Sanders criticized Johnson in a post on X while sharing a clip from a Fox News interview in which Johnson discussed Democratic opposition to data centers. "No, Mr. Johnson," Sanders wrote. "The 75% of Americans who oppose data centers, including a majority of Republicans, have not fallen victim to a Chinese psyop." Sanders said Americans were "rightly concerned about AI billionaires raising their electricity bills, destroying the environment and threatening humanity." Johnson Defends Data Center Stance In the Fox News clip, the reporter asked Johnson about claims from technology executives and lawmakers that opposition to data centers was coming from China and about Democrats making the issue part of their midterm messaging. "This is what Democrats do every election cycle," he said, accusing Democrats of focusing on "doom and gloom" messaging. "Don’t buy it. It is a Chinese cy op," Joh
Sen. ) pushed back against House Speaker Mike Johnson’s claim that opposition to data centers is linked to a Chinese psychological operation, arguing that Americans have legitimate concerns about the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure. Sanders Challenges China Claim On Tuesday, Sanders criticized Johnson in a post on X while sharing a clip from a Fox News interview in which Johnson discussed Democratic opposition to data centers. "No, Mr.
Johnson," Sanders wrote. " Johnson Defends Data Center Stance In the Fox News clip, the reporter asked Johnson about claims from technology executives and lawmakers that opposition to data centers was coming from China and about Democrats making the issue part of their midterm messaging. "This is what Democrats do every election cycle," he said, accusing Democrats of focusing on "doom and gloom" messaging. "Don’t buy it.
It is a Chinese cy op," Johnson said. "I really believe that. And it’s not a conspiracy theory. " No, Mr.
Johnson. " They are rightly concerned about AI billionaires raising their electricity bills, destroying the environment and threatening humanity — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 29, 2026 Read Also: Ted Cruz Warns China Could Win in High-Stakes AI Race — 'Single Most Important Economic Question Facing America Today' AI Data Centers Faced Growing Scrutiny Earlier this week, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates warned that governments might need to experience serious AI-related problems, such as a major cyberattack, before taking the technology’s risks more seriously. Sen.
) criticized the Republican-backed Ratepayer Protection Act as "optional" and "toothless," arguing it lacked binding safeguards for rising electricity demand from AI data centers. The House had passed the bill 417-3. Previously, Sen. S.
groups opposing AI data centers. They alleged that some organizations could be using tax-exempt status to advance foreign interests. S. AI development.
The lawmakers did not establish that all data center opposition was connected to China. Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published editors. Read Also: Trump Is Expanding a Pledge That Could Stop AI Data Centers From Hiking Your Electricity Bill— Here's Who Just Signed On Photo courtesy: Shutterstock