A version of the following article appeared in the September 4, 2026, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking in Charlotte, says the U.S. holds a narrow AI lead over China; ‘It is national security’
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks with Charlotte Economics Club president Michael Blanco at the Charlotte City Club on Wednesday. (Photo: Tony Mecia/The Charlotte Ledger)
by Tony Mecia
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent gave a full-throated defense of building data centers in the U.S. in a Charlotte speech on Wednesday, saying they are vital to national security and to staying ahead of rival China.
And he criticized tech companies and data center developers for failing to adequately articulate what’s at stake as the U.S. and China compete for the lead in artificial intelligence.
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