Trump administration considers taking equity stake in OpenAI
Original: The Trump administration might take an equity stake in OpenAI
Why This Matters
Government equity stakes in AI companies could reshape industry ownership models
President Trump said he's discussing deals with AI companies where Americans could benefit from AI success. CNBC reports the administration has discussed an equity stake with OpenAI, potentially seeding the company's proposed Public Wealth Fund.
President Trump announced on Friday he's been speaking with AI companies about deals allowing Americans to benefit from AI success. CNBC reports the Trump administration has discussed taking an equity stake in OpenAI, with some equity potentially funding OpenAI's proposed Public Wealth Fund that would distribute proceeds directly to citizens. CEO Sam Altman has discussed government stakes in AI companies since early 2025. This aligns with Trump's broader interest in government ownership, including a 10% stake in Intel last year. Senator Bernie Sanders proposed a 50% tax on companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI, payable in stock, as these companies potentially go public this year. Former Trump AI czar David Sacks warned this could accelerate corporate-government fusion.