The Trump administration might take an equity stake in OpenAI

The Trump administration is reportedly in discussions to acquire an equity stake in OpenAI, an AI company. This consideration aligns with President Trump's recent statements about striking deals with AI companies to benefit the American people. The proposal suggests using some of this equity to establish a "Public Wealth Fund" that would distribute proceeds from AI-driven growth directly to citizens, allowing broader participation in the economic upside of AI. CEO Sam Altman has also been exploring the idea of government stakes in major AI companies since early 2025. This concept echoes Trump's prior interest in government ownership within for-profit sectors, notably a 10% stake in Intel last year. The notion of public ownership in AI companies has also garnered bipartisan interest, with Senator Bernie Sanders proposing a one-time stock-based tax on companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI. Sanders argues this would grant the public a direct role in shaping AI's future and ensure that the substantial wealth generated by the technology benefits all. However, some, like investor David Sacks, express concern that such measures could accelerate a "corporate-government fusion."