Trump Administration Weighs Equity Stake in OpenAI

President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that he has been in discussions with artificial intelligence companies about potential arrangements “where the American people can benefit from the success of AI.” While the president did not name specific firms during his remarks, OpenAI has emerged as a prime candidate following a CNBC report that the Trump administration is actively negotiating an equity stake in the company.

According to CNBC, part of that equity could be used to fund a “Public Wealth Fund” that OpenAI recently proposed. The company envisions distributing proceeds from the fund directly to citizens, ensuring that more people can share in the economic gains from AI-driven growth, regardless of their current financial standing. As OpenAI described it, the fund would allow individuals “to participate directly in the upside of AI-driven growth, irrespective of their starting wealth or access to capital.”

When reporters on Air Force One asked Trump about the concept, he responded that he has been speaking with AI executives about “concepts where pieces could be given to the American public, where the American public essentially becomes a partner with the companies,” according to Bloomberg. The outlet also noted that Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, has been discussing the idea of a government stake in major AI companies since early 2025.

This approach aligns with Trump’s broader interest in government ownership of for-profit enterprises. Last year, for instance, the government took a 10% stake in struggling chipmaker Intel. The idea has also gained traction on the political left. This week, Senator Bernie Sanders proposed a one-time, 50% tax on companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI (part of SpaceX) to be paid in the form of stock. With these businesses potentially going public this year, Sanders argued the tax would “give the public a direct role in determining the future of this technology” and “guarantee that the trillions of dollars potentially generated by A. I. are used to improve the lives of all of us.”

David Sacks, an investor and podcaster who recently stepped down as Trump’s AI and crypto czar, acknowledged the appeal of Sanders’ proposal, noting it resonates “including with many on the right.” However, he warned that such a move would actually “accelerate the corporate-government fusion we’re already sliding toward.” Sacks now co-chairs the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

On social media, former Microsoft employee Dare Obasanjo offered a more skeptical take, suggesting that “the groundwork is already being laid for a government bailout of OpenAI.”