A small Virginia town, Danville, is exhibiting resistance to the expansion of data centers, fueled by local anxieties and a belief that China is exploiting misconceptions surrounding the technology. Vic Ingram, a local leader, is voicing concerns about the origins of negative perceptions regarding these facilities. Despite former President Trump’s push for increased AI development and domestic data infrastructure, gaining local buy-in is proving difficult. The Danville Register & Bee highlighted this tension with a front-page story focusing on the perceived Chinese influence. This distrust impacts the ambition to build up American AI capabilities, as data centers are vital for such development. The situation reveals a disconnect between national AI policy and the concerns of communities hosting the necessary infrastructure. Local officials are struggling to balance economic benefits with public skepticism.