【By Guan察者网, Liu Bai】
For a long time, the MAGA (Make America Great Again) faction of former U.S. President Trump has been strongly opposed to solar energy, even calling it "the greatest scam of the century."
But recently, this stance has undergone a significant reversal.
"Why is MAGA suddenly falling in love with solar energy?" The centrist-left media outlet Washington Post mentioned on March 2 that as AI data centers consume massive amounts of electricity, electricity prices soar, and Sino-U.S. energy competition intensifies, more and more of Trump's allies, including Musk, have publicly supported solar energy, considering it crucial for the U.S. AI leadership, grid stability, reducing electricity costs, and competition with China. As a result, the Trump administration has softened its position and restarted the approval process for some solar projects. Although there are still conservative opponents, solar energy has become a new focus in the MAGA energy agenda, with related promotion actions gradually being implemented across various regions.
Conservatives' Shift
The article wrote that as American conservatives realize the key role of solar energy in powering artificial intelligence and controlling electricity costs, the crackdown led by Trump on solar energy is easing.
Katie Miller, wife of Stephen Miller, Trump's domestic policy chief, and a right-wing commentator and podcast host, has shown a particularly noticeable shift. In the past, her X account was filled with typical Trump supporter style: she criticized children "gender transition," mocked mainstream media, and posted content that provoked the left.
But recently, this MAGA voice has changed. She recently posted: "Solar energy is the future of energy. That huge fusion reactor in the sky - we must rapidly expand solar energy to compete with China." Another post said that solar energy is more important for the United States than coal, which is completely different from the White House's previous statements and policies.
Trump has always openly criticized solar panels, calling them "landscape destroyers," "inefficient," and "ugly," and referring to solar and wind energy together as "the biggest scam of the century." His government prioritized fossil fuels and blocked hundreds of solar projects from final approvals.
However, it's not only Katie Miller who has dared to deviate from the traditional MAGA stance on solar energy.
As electricity demand surges and energy affordability becomes a voter concern, more and more of Trump's allies - including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, senior advisor Kellyanne Conway, and Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio - are promoting solar energy. Their support for clean energy may be starting to take effect, as the White House has already signaled a reconsideration of solar energy. Even Trump's tone on the issue has changed.
On February 5, 2026, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin continued construction of a $1 billion, 520-acre data center. IC Photo
Katie Miller said in an interview that solar energy is crucial for achieving the energy and AI agenda.
"Look at what Australia did," she said, "solar energy solved their rolling blackouts. President Trump has always prioritized lowering energy costs for Americans... I'm just advocating that solar energy can and should be the driver of the solution."
This reflects a broader realization among Republicans: the solar energy, long promoted by liberals, is becoming increasingly indispensable for the U.S. to gain AI dominance, close the vast "power gap" with China, and curb soaring electricity bills. These conservatives see it as essential to American competitiveness, grid reliability, and the political survival of their movement. Climate change rarely comes up in these discussions.
Currently, the U.S. is experiencing the largest increase in power demand in decades, mainly due to the explosive expansion of AI data centers. Tech companies warn that power shortages are limiting their expansion capabilities.
Solar energy is one of the few sources that can come online quickly. Compared to fossil fuels or nuclear power, the planning and grid connection of new projects require significantly less time.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, solar energy combined with storage batteries will account for 79% of the new installed capacity added to the U.S. grid this year. Most of this will go to Republican states, with Texas alone accounting for 40%.
Although the Trump administration has put solar energy at a disadvantage compared to natural gas, coal, and nuclear power through delaying approvals, canceling projects, cutting federal clean energy programs, repealing climate regulations, and criticizing state clean energy targets, it is now facing increasing pressure from its own voter base to use solar energy to ease the U.S. energy crisis and electricity price surge.
The White House Begins to Compromise
Last week, the Department of the Interior announced that several large solar projects previously halted would restart the approval process, and acknowledged that these facilities aligned with Trump's energy agenda. Last week, during a call with reporters, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who once called solar energy a "parasite" on the grid, changed his tone.
"Can solar energy provide cheap and reliable energy for the grid commercially?" he said, "Certainly."
Not all right-wingers are convinced.
Fossil fuel supporters Alex Epstein responded to Miller's post on X, attacking China, claiming, "China likes the idea of 'we must rapidly expand solar energy' because they produce far more panels than the market needs."
However, such criticism is being drowned out by pro-solar conservative voices.
Musk is one of the loudest supporters. He is pushing for the development of a manufacturing capacity of 100 gigawatts of solar panels per year in the U.S., and plans to develop space-based solar data centers.
Musk is now using his influence to push a grand plan to "regain solar manufacturing from China." His company Tesla plans to build a factory in the U.S. to produce 100 gigawatts of solar panels annually, which could become a key pillar of the U.S. data center boom.
Solar panel climate adaptability research conducted by Minnesota universities. IC Photo
Various signs indicate that support for solar energy within MAGA is gaining resonance among a broader range of activists.
Recently, Trump's long-time advisor Gingrich wrote in a column article: "Solar and wind energy are popular, and very reasonable in suitable areas. Moreover, these technologies get cheaper and more reliable every year." The article warned against federal policies that punish them.
Gingrich did not respond to requests for comment.
In Virginia, a conservative coalition promoting solar expansion is printing MAGA hats. In states like Wisconsin, Republican legislators are pushing bills allowing farmers to build solar facilities on idle land to generate electricity. Nevada Governor Lombardo also proudly stated that he convinced the Trump administration to resume advancing three industrial solar projects.
Some Republicans are now more willing to accept solar energy because Congress has canceled tax incentives previously seen as "climate subsidies." In a more "fair" environment, they find that solar energy remains one of the fastest and cheapest sources of new power.
Republican Representative Scott Krueger of Wisconsin said, "We are an energy net importer and must understand how to produce more energy ourselves." His bill allows any farmer to build private solar facilities on up to dozens of acres of idle land (usually where irrigation equipment is placed) and connect it to the grid. He said the proposal could provide a lot of power for the entire state and free up grid capacity for data centers.
Ironically, those opposing the bill are Democrats and utility companies, who argue that these facilities are actually subsidized by other electricity users.
Farmer Lloyd Kline said, "We want to keep this land for our children. Now, with solar panels, the next generation will have income."
The solar industry is also trying to win Trump's support, hiring political consultants closely associated with his movement to lobby. A 2024 Pew Research Center survey showed that 64% of Republican voters still support solar farms; Gallup's 2025 poll showed that Americans overall support investing in alternative energy.
Nevertheless, many Republicans oppose prioritizing solar energy or providing government subsidies.
Trump himself seems to be rethinking. He promoted a video on Truth Social, advocating for federal tax incentives to install solar panels and energy storage systems on millions of homes, freeing up power for data centers while significantly reducing electricity bills.
"Last year, we wouldn't have seen this," said Stephanie Bosch, a solar industry association executive.
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Original: toutiao.com/article/7612859473123623439/
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