January 7, 2025
By Matthew Gault
A Press Conference Like No Other
The most important part of the press conference was over in the first ten minutes.
A Business Deal to Remember
Incoming President Donald Trump opened a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on January 7 by announcing a business deal. More data centers, he said, were coming to the U.S. courtesy of a businessman from Dubai.
"We’re honored to introduce one of the most respected business leaders in the Middle East, indeed the world," Trump began. "He is a founder and chairman of Damac Properties, Hussain Sajwani. Very respected gentleman."
Sajwani, a UAE-based billionaire, has been a friend of Trump’s since 2007 and became a business partner a few years later. He donated $1 to $5 million to support Trump’s first campaign and was the mastermind behind the Trump International Golf Club in Dubai, which opened in 2017.
The Investment
The investment will support massive new data centers across the midwest, the Sunbelt area, and also to keep America on the cutting edge of technology and artificial intelligence, he’s very big into the data centers, and that’s going to be a very hot item in the coming years, as you know, with AI in particular… the first phase of the project will be in Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana. Those places.
A Sweet Deal
Trump and Sajwani have been friends since around 2007 and became business partners a few years later. Sajwani donated $1 to $5 million to support Trump’s first campaign and was the mastermind behind the Trump International Golf Club in Dubai, which opened in 2017.
When the club opened, Donald Jr. was on hand to pose for the cameras and talk up his father’s golf course. The event raised eyebrows at the time due to its unusual nature, with some questioning why a businessman from the Middle East would be involved in a high-profile real estate project in Florida.
The $20 Billion Deal
Sajwani has made headlines in recent years for his business dealings and philanthropic efforts. In 2019, he launched a joint venture with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to build a new city on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia.
Under the terms of the deal announced by Trump, Sajwani’s company will invest $20 billion in building data centers across the United States.
A New Era for Data Centers
The investment is seen as a major boost for the US economy and a sign that companies are finally starting to recognize the potential of data centers as a key driver of growth.
"We’re thrilled to partner with Hussain Sajwani on this exciting project," Trump said in a statement. "Data centers are a vital part of our country’s infrastructure, and we look forward to working together to make sure they continue to thrive."
A Claim That Left Many Perplexed
But just as the press conference was winding down, Trump made a comment that left many in attendance perplexed.
"Windmills are killing whales," he said. "It’s a disaster, folks. Believe me."
The claim, which has been widely debunked by experts and fact-checkers, raised eyebrows among journalists and politicians alike.
A Reaction to the Claim
The reaction was immediate, with many calling out Trump for spreading misinformation and using the event as an opportunity to push his own agenda.
"The President’s remarks on windmills and whales are completely unfounded," said a spokesperson for the White House. "We will continue to work towards ensuring that our country’s energy policies are based on science and fact, not speculation or myth."
A Press Conference Like No Other
As the press conference came to a close, it was clear that this was an event unlike any other.
While some attendees were left scratching their heads at Trump’s claim about windmills, others were still reeling from the sheer audacity of his announcement.
"This is a game-changer," said one journalist. "We’ve never seen anything like it before."
A New Era for Data Centers?
As the dust settles on this press conference, one thing is clear: the future of data centers in America has just taken a major turn.
Whether or not Sajwani’s investment will pay off remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – this deal marks the beginning of a new era for data centers in the United States.
