Trump unveils $92 billion in AI investments during Pennsylvania trip
President Trump has long expressed his desire to see America dominate the global market in artificial intelligence innovation. In fact, one of the first executive orders he signed was aimed at removing barriers to American leadership in the fast-growing field.
On July 15, Trump travelled to Pennsylvania to tout more than $92 billion in private sector investment in the state, including in data centers, energy, power infrastructure and personnel needed to fuel the country’s AI ambitions.
"This is a really triumphant day for the people of the Commonwealth and for the United States of America. We're doing things that nobody ever thought possible," said Trump as he spoke at the first Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit held at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University.
The event was organized by Sen. Dave McCormick, a Pennsylvania Republican, a former hedge fund CEO, who brought together industry titans from the finance and tech world who had made major commitments to the state.
It also happens to be a battleground state, which was crucial to Trump’s victory in 2024.
"We did very well in this state, as you know, three times actually," said Trump, misstating the electoral outcomes during his three bids for the presidency. While he won the state in 2016 and 2024, Trump lost Pennsylvania to Joe Biden in 2020.
McCormick highlighted various companies that made commitments to the state. Blackstone, for instance, announced a $25 billion investment in data center and energy infrastructure development in northeastern Pennsylvania. The investment is expected to create 6,000 construction jobs along with 3,000 new permanent jobs, according to McCormick’s office.
First Energy will invest $15 billion to expand power distribution, strengthen grid infrastructure, and operate the enhanced grid, supporting 56 of the 67 Pennsylvania counties.
As the nation’s second-largest energy producer and a global nuclear power leader, Pennsylvania is uniquely positioned to deliver the abundant, affordable energy that growing AI and advanced manufacturing sectors demand, said McCormick.
He also credited Trump as a catalyst for the investments: "It is the manifestation of your agenda," he said.
Trump was accompanied at the event by a large contingent of his cabinet and other government officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and White House AI Czar David Sacks.
"I think we have a true golden age for America," said Trump. "It truly is the hottest country anywhere in the world."
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is a White House correspondent for Paste BN. You can follow her on X @SwapnaVenugopal