A Tennessee man has been charged with an act of terrorism after threatening to burn down an xAI facility due to his dissatisfaction with its founder, Elon Musk, and President Donald Trump, authorities reported.
The 25-year-old man from Ashland City, Ethan Paul Early, was arrested and charged on Feb. 20 following discussions with a police officer regarding the threats, as per an affidavit. He was subsequently booked into jail on a $500,000 bond, according to court records. A lawyer listed for Early in court records did not respond to requests for comment.
According to the affidavit, a concerned friend of Early contacted the police after Early expressed his intention to set fire to one of Musk's data centers because of his grievances with the tech billionaire and Trump. Early allegedly mentioned his plan to use thermite and had started acquiring the necessary materials for the compound, known for its ability to generate intense heat.
Upon visiting Early's residence, the officer inquired about the intended target of the arson plan. Early disclosed that Musk had an “AI factory” in Memphis, where xAI, Musk's artificial intelligence company, operates a supercomputer. Early informed the officer that he had reconsidered his actions and was dissuaded by friends from proceeding with the plan, acknowledging that he had become overly engrossed in politics and had gone “too far down the deep end.”
Early expressed regret for his actions, stating that he felt compelled to take action but was ashamed of allowing himself to become so carried away. He informed the officer that he had disposed of the materials he had acquired for the plan.
The affidavit did not specify the exact reasons for Early's discontent. Musk, through the Department of Government Efficiency, has been actively involved in downsizing the federal government during Trump's administration, which has included staff layoffs.
