taxpayer subsidies – Kevin O’Leary pushed back hard on Tucker Carlson during a wide-ranging interview over taxpayer-backed incentives for his proposed Utah data center, framing it as a necessary investment in America’s AI future amid intensifying competition with China.
When Tucker Carlson pressed Kevin O’Leary on why taxpayers should help fund his Utah data center plans, the conversation quickly turned into a fight over who pays, who benefits, and what the AI race with China demands.
In an interview published Wednesday. Carlson repeatedly questioned O’Leary’s rationale for seeking public support for what he called a private infrastructure project that could serve some of the richest tech companies in the world. including Amazon. Microsoft and Google.. O’Leary. a Canadian citizen and an investor known for “Shark Tank. ” defended the development as a matter of national competitiveness—arguing that incentives are part of how large projects win deals in a high-stakes race.
The dispute comes as O’Leary’s proposed Stratos data center project in Utah faces mounting backlash. Opponents say the plan—covering 40,000 acres—could strain the state’s water and power resources while producing relatively few long-term jobs. County commissioners unanimously approved the project.
O’Leary said the project is necessary for America’s AI future. pushing back on criticism from what he called “professional protesters.” He argued it would drive economic growth and job opportunities. create jobs. and generate tax revenue. comparing the project to other manufacturing efforts that compete for state incentives.
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