The Trump Administration Might Explore Acquiring an Equity Interest in OpenAI

On Friday, President Donald Trump noted that he has been in talks with AI firms about forming agreements that could be advantageous for the American public in terms of AI progress.

Although Trump did not identify any specific companies, OpenAI stands out as a key player, especially following CNBC’s reports that the Trump administration has been considering an equity investment in the AI organization.

As per CNBC, part of this equity might help fund a “Public Wealth Fund” recently suggested by OpenAI. The firm detailed that revenues from this fund “could be distributed directly to citizens, enabling wider participation in the advantages of AI-driven growth, regardless of individuals’ initial wealth or access to capital.”

According to Bloomberg, when asked by reporters on Air Force One, Trump mentioned he has been discussing with AI leaders “concepts where portions could be shared with the American people, essentially turning the public into partners with these entities.”

Furthermore, Bloomberg highlighted that CEO Sam Altman has been promoting the notion of government ownership in significant AI companies since early 2025.

This aligns with Trump’s increased interest in government stakes in private enterprises, illustrated by a 10% investment made by the government in the distressed chip manufacturer Intel last year.

The idea has also gained traction among left-leaning circles, with Senator Bernie Sanders recently proposing a one-time 50% tax on firms like OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI (part of SpaceX) to be paid in stock.

With many of these companies poised to go public this year, Sanders contended that this tax would “provide the public with a direct role in shaping the future of this technology” and ensure that the expected trillions from AI are beneficial to all.

David Sacks, an investor who recently stepped down from his role as Trump’s advisor on AI and crypto, stated that he understands why Sanders’ proposal is attractive, “even to many on the right,” but warned that it would likely “exacerbate the corporate-government convergence we’re already witnessing.”

On social media, former Microsoft employee Dare Obasanjo remarked, “The groundwork is clearly being set for a government bailout of OpenAI.”