A group called Humans First, which presents itself as a conservative grassroots movement dedicated to ensuring AI's future is controlled by everyday people, has been revealed to enlist Green Party figures and Democratic-aligned activists in its nationwide protests against new data center construction.

Humans First was initially launched as a bipartisan project but has since positioned itself in opposition to one of President Donald Trump’s key economic priorities: accelerating the buildout of data centers to support America’s AI development. The organization aimed to rally conservatives for mass protests on July 18, 2026, against the construction of new data centers.

The group’s chair, Kremer, who told Axios in June that she was an early Tea Party leader in 2009, highlighted a disconnect between elites and the base reminiscent of the Tea Party movement, now visible in the battle over AI data centers. Humans First was founded after the 2024 election to resist Trump’s agenda and promote "diversity, equity & justice." Following the July 18 protests, Humans First claimed to have helped organize 142 protests across 42 states.

Meanwhile, progressive lawmakers including Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced legislation calling for a nationwide moratorium on new data center construction, citing environmental concerns, rising electricity prices, and potential job displacement. However, some commentators have noted a lack of clear evidence directly linking data centers to increased energy costs.

Fox News Digital’s review found that despite Humans First’s conservative branding, the movement’s protests involved significant participation from left-wing activists, including Green Party members and Democratic-aligned groups. Humans First has stated that not all protests were fully vetted or endorsed by the organization.

The debate over data centers reflects a cross-partisan issue, with economic and environmental implications drawing attention from diverse political factions.

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