WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said he is exploring the possibility of the federal government acquiring stakes in artificial intelligence companies, a concept he likened to a “partnership with the American people.”
Trump said he would meet with executives from the nation’s largest AI companies early next week to discuss a possible government equity stake in “pieces” of their companies.
“There are concepts where pieces can be given to the American public, where the American public essentially becomes partners with the companies,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on June 5. “I’ve talked to all of them,” he said, referring to the AI companies. “There’s something very interesting about it, where it almost becomes a partnership with the American public, and we’ll look into it. We’re looking.”
AI Equity Talks with Tech Executives
Trump’s comments come after NOTUS reported that senior Trump administration officials have discussed a possible acquisition of shares of AI firms with tech executives, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who first pitched the idea to Trump in early 2025.
Notas, which cited three unnamed sources familiar with the talks, said discussions included companies voluntarily surrendering shares to the government, returns on investment for public purposes, including potential dividend payments to American families. It is unclear how the government can legally force companies to hand over equity to the government. The size of the government’s equity is also not clear.
“We’re talking about where the American people can benefit from the success of AI,” Trump said. “And by doing so, they’ll like it even more.”
A pattern of government equity under Trump
The rapid expansion of AI – and its impact on the labor market and humanity – has become a growing concern among Americans and people around the world. Trump signed an executive order this week that calls for AI developers to voluntarily submit their models to the federal government for review for potential cybersecurity risks.
In his second term, Trump has increasingly broken with Republicans’ historically hands-off approach to the role of government alongside private enterprise in industries he considered vital to the country.
Under Trump, the federal government acquired a 10% stake in semiconductor giant Intel, stakes in several companies producing metals and minerals, and a so-called “golden share” in US Steel Corporation, which gives the government the right to make certain decisions.
Where Trump and Sanders agree
With the government’s stake in AI, Trump would embrace a concept that is also supported by Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, a Democratic socialist — though perhaps on a smaller scale than the senator has suggested.
Sanders said he intends to soon introduce legislation that would seek to give the government 50% ownership of the country’s largest AI companies – enough to give the government effective control of decision making. Sanders wrote in a New York Times op-ed on June 1 that his legislation would impose a one-time 50% tax on companies’ stocks.
Asked about Sanders’ plan, Trump told reporters, “I’ve been talking about it for the last year,” adding that some of the voters who supported Sanders in the 2016 Democratic primary supported him in the general election.
“As far as the economics are concerned, we have some things that are not that far off,” Trump said.
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
