The Trump Administration Might Explore Investment Opportunities in OpenAI

On Friday, President Donald Trump revealed that he has been in talks with AI companies regarding potential agreements that could benefit the American populace in terms of advancements in AI technology.

Although Trump did not mention specific firms, OpenAI stands out as a significant candidate, particularly following a CNBC report suggesting that the Trump administration is considering an equity investment in the AI organization.

As reported by CNBC, a portion of this equity might support a recently proposed “Public Wealth Fund” initiated by OpenAI. The organization stated that the income generated from this fund “could potentially be shared directly with citizens, promoting broader participation in the advantages of AI-driven growth, regardless of individual wealth or access to resources.”

Bloomberg noted that when asked by reporters on Air Force One, Trump mentioned he has been discussing with AI leaders about “ideas that could permit segments to be shared with the American public, effectively making them partners with these companies.”

Moreover, Bloomberg highlighted that CEO Sam Altman has been advocating for government ownership in major AI firms since early 2025.

This indicates Trump’s increasing interest in government investments in private companies, as evidenced by a 10% investment made by the government in the distressed chip manufacturer Intel last year.

The idea has also received backing from progressive groups, with Senator Bernie Sanders recently suggesting a one-time 50% tax on companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI (linked to SpaceX), to be compensated in stock.

With many of these companies planning to go public this year, Sanders argued 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 benefit everyone.

David Sacks, an investor who recently stepped down from his role as Trump’s advisor on AI and cryptocurrency, expressed his understanding of the attraction of Sanders’ proposal, “even to many on the right,” but warned that it could “exacerbate the corporate-government convergence we’re already witnessing.”

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