Trump Administration Explores Government Stakes in Major AI Companies

Quick Facts

• Senior U.S. officials have held preliminary discussions with major AI companies about the government acquiring voluntary stakes in their firms
• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has pitched the idea directly to Trump since early 2025, with returns potentially distributed as dividends to American households
• The discussions come as OpenAI and Anthropic prepare for IPOs that could demand over $200 billion from public markets

The Trump administration is exploring the possibility of the federal government taking equity stakes in major artificial intelligence companies through voluntary partnerships, President Donald Trump confirmed during a press briefing aboard Air Force One on June 5.

Trump stated he will likely meet with representatives of “all the big” AI developers at the White House next week. When asked about government stakes, Trump said, “There are concepts where pieces could be given to the American public, where the American public essentially becomes a partner with the companies.”

The discussions have centered on firms voluntarily ceding shares to the government rather than the government purchasing equity positions. Returns on these investments could be directed to public purposes, such as distributing dividend payments to all American households.

OpenAI Takes the Lead

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has discussed the idea with senior Trump administration officials periodically since the president began his second term. According to CNBC, White House officials have been discussing the concept with Altman for over a year.

Under the proposed plan, OpenAI would donate equity to the government. The shares would reportedly finance an investment vehicle enabling Americans to share in AI company profits.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei held discussions at the White House in April, but the company has publicly confirmed it is not involved in these discussions.

Market and Regulatory Implications

The timing proves significant as OpenAI and Anthropic prepare for blockbuster initial public offerings. Matthew Bloxham, a Senior Tech Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, noted that Anthropic’s annualized revenue run rate reached around $10 billion by the end of last year and could potentially hit $50 billion by the end of this year.

Government equity stakes would dilute existing shareholders. If OpenAI secures a government partnership while Anthropic remains independent, that asymmetry could influence how public markets price their respective offerings.

The three major AI company IPOs together could demand north of $200 billion from public markets. The entire U.S. IPO market raised just $45 billion in all of 2025.

Alternative Legislative Approach

Senator Bernie Sanders has proposed a different approach through his American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act. The legislation would create a new fund by imposing a one-time 50% tax on the stock of OpenAI, Anthropic, and other AI companies.

Sanders argued in a New York Times op-ed: “When a public resource generates wealth, the public should share in that wealth. AI is being built on a public resource far more valuable than oil: the accumulated knowledge, creativity, and labor of mankind.”

His proposal would also allow the federal government to use voting shares and equal board representation to block decisions it deems harmful.

Precedent Exists

The Trump administration has precedent for taking equity positions in private companies. Intel recently provided the government with a stake worth roughly $49.8 billion through previously awarded federal support from CHIPS and Science Act grants and the Secure Enclave program.

Tech layoffs in 2026 have already surpassed 142,000, with companies like Meta, Atlassian, and Cloudflare citing AI investment as the reason for workforce reductions. Software developer employment for workers aged 22 to 25 has fallen roughly 20% from its 2024 peak.

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