Daniel Penny, a New Yorker recently acquitted of criminally negligent homicide for choking an unstable homeless man on the subway, has taken to social media to advocate for an unexpected cause.
After joining venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz in February 2025, just a few months post-trial, Penny is now publicly promoting the creation of data centers. In a lengthy post on X, he claims to possess a “rare” perspective on the matter.
So that Americans will continue to win for generations to come. https://t.co/1kLyCAwvXg
— Danny Penny (@12Palehorse) August 28, 2026
Penny expressed his commitment to purchasing American-made products and voiced concern over China undermining American businesses through practices like slave labor and automation. He suggested that supporting American companies which employ “advanced software and automation” with data centers is crucial for revitalizing U.S. manufacturing.
“I’m telling you, the data center is not the enemy. It’s the forge. It trains the robots that will bring manufacturing home. It automates office jobs that we probably shouldn’t have created to begin with and ultimately reduces dependence on diploma mills,” Penny wrote. “It will create more opportunities for electricians, welders, and pipefitters than this country has seen in generations.”
“If we build the data centers, we’ll see paychecks, purpose, and pride return to those looking to rebuild our nation,” he added. “The data center is not taking American jobs; it’s actually offering them back.”
Penny works with Andreessen Horowitz’s American Dynamism team, an initiative designed to support businesses that align with national interests.
A PublicFirst poll from June 2026 revealed that 26% of Americans favor new data center constructions, though many express concerns about issues such as water consumption, environmental effects, and increasing energy costs.
Additionally, Penny warned Big Tech in his pitch, urging them to “demonstrate their appreciation for the society they are helping to build,” suggesting that data centers should be designed with aesthetic considerations in mind.
Penny’s name gained national attention in May 2023 when he faced charges related to the death of Jordan Neely on the subway. Prosecutors alleged Penny placed Neely in a chokehold for about six minutes, ultimately resulting in Neely’s death. Penny and other passengers contended that Neely was behaving erratically and threateningly.
“He was yelling, so I took my headphones out to hear what he was saying. The three main threats he repeated were about killing people, going to jail for life, and being willing to die,” Penny described afterward. “I was afraid for myself, but then I noticed women and children around. He was shouting these threats at them; I couldn’t just sit still.”
A charge of second-degree manslaughter was dropped due to a hung jury, and Penny was acquitted of the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide.
