President Donald Trump and Gov. Jeff Landry said Meta’s massive northeastern Louisiana project in Richland Parish will make the state the hub for artificial intelligence with a data center the size of Manhattan.
During a cabinet meeting this week, Trump said Meta, the parent company of Facebook, will expand its initial $10 billion investment to $50 billion.
Trump displayed a piece of paper he said was given to him by Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg that showed the center superimposed over Manhattan, covering most of the New York island.
“When they said ‘$50 billion for a plant,’ I said, ‘What the hell kind of a plant is that?'” Trump said. “But when you look at this, you understand why it’s $50 billion.”
Landry responded to the president on X with the following post:
“It is vital for American ingenuity and national security that we lead in AI development. As President @realDonaldTrump displayed during (the) cabinet meeting, the size of the Meta AI Data Center being built in Richland Parish is nearly the size of Manhattan. Louisiana isn’t just a participant in the AI race, we are leading it!”
Richland Parish Chamber of Commerce founder Scott Franklin said the project is transformation for the region and state.
“The president’s statement is proof that the Richland Parish Data Center will lead the world in AI technology,” Franklin told USA Today Network. “This project will completely transform the regional economy and Meta will pay close to a billion dollars in property taxes over the life of the project. These taxes stay right here in Richland Parish. New hospitals, funding for better education and endless opportunity is on the horizon.”
USA Today Network is seeking comment from Meta on the president’s comments.
Meta’s data center, which is under construction now and set for completion in 2028, is already the largest economic development project in the state’s history.
It’s already set to be at least four times the size of Meta’s other AI data centers.
In a previous interview with USA Today Network, Meta executive Kevin Janda said the Louisiana AI data center will “play a pivotal role in advancing Meta’s (artificial intelligence) efforts” and “connect billions of people around the world.”
Last week the Louisiana Public Service Commission that regulates monopoly utilities approved Entergy’s plan to build three new natural gas electricity plants to provide power to the center.
Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.
