Kevin O'Leary Accuses Utah Data Center Opponents of Foreign Ties

Kevin O'Leary, a prominent investor, publicly accused Elevate Strategies, a Democratic political group based in Utah, of being paid by China to spread misinformation regarding his proposed Stratos data center campus. O'Leary, a "Shark Tank" star and investor in the $100 billion Stratos project in rural Box Elder County, made these claims on Fox News, suggesting that the group's online opposition to data centers stemmed from foreign influence. Gabi Finlayson, co-founder of Elevate Strategies, along with Jackie Morgan, responded to O'Leary's accusations in a widely shared video, humorously dismissing his claims as absurd. They joked about being "the worst operatives in the entire world" if they were Chinese-funded and questioned O'Leary's investigative methods. The group, which advocates against the data center due to its projected electricity consumption — estimated to exceed Utah's current statewide usage — clarified that their funding comes from small-dollar donors and subscriptions. Despite the ongoing public dispute and active opposition from groups like Elevate Strategies, the Box Elder County Commission had already approved the large data center project in Tremonton, Utah, on May 4, 2026. The exchange highlights the growing tensions between data center developers and local opposition groups, particularly concerning environmental and resource impacts.