Trump administration, Kevin O'Leary claim China fuels anti-data center sentiment in US
The Trump administration and investor Kevin O'Leary claim that a Chinese propaganda campaign is fueling anti-data center sentiment across the US, specifically targeting projects like O'Leary's 40,000-acre Stratos Project in Box Elder, Utah. They allege foreign entities are funding misinformation campaigns to block American AI infrastructure development. Opposing groups, however, deny any foreign influence and view these claims as an attempt by big tech to manipulate public opinion and push through projects despite local concerns over environmental and community impacts.
The Trump administration and "Shark Tank" investor Kevin O'Leary have alleged that a Chinese propaganda campaign is behind the growing anti-data center sentiment observed across the United States. O'Leary, whose 40,000-acre Stratos Project data center outside Salt Lake City, Utah, has faced protests, stated in a video that "nefarious accounts out of the country" linked to China are spreading misinformation about his development as part of a coordinated effort against American AI infrastructure.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum supported O'Leary's claims during a Fox Business appearance, asserting that data center projects nationwide are being "bombarded with foreign-directed propaganda." O'Leary cited "90 pages of evidence" indicating substantial foreign funds are fueling these misinformation campaigns. This view is echoed by reports from tech and Trump-aligned think tanks and non-profits, including the Bitcoin Policy Institute, Power the Future, and the American Energy Institute, which concluded that opposition to US data center construction is a "coordinated campaign financed in substantial part by foreign donors."
However, several groups named in these reports, such as the Wyss Foundation and Code Pink, deny any involvement in a foreign influence campaign, calling the allegations "false and defamatory" or "laughable." They suggest these claims are a tactic by "big crypto special interests" to promote data center development. O'Leary's project in Box Elder, Utah, faces local backlash concerning its massive scale, potential impacts on water and power costs, property values, and community health. O'Leary insists his project will be developed responsibly over 10 years, using only 9,000 acres of the 40,000-acre plot and creating 6,000 jobs in a remote area. Nevertheless, opponents like activist Kyle Schmidt view the foreign influence claims as a "gaslighting" attempt by big tech to circumvent local opposition.