Trump Explores Federal Equity Stakes in AI Companies

President Donald Trump confirmed June 5 that his administration is actively exploring a plan for the federal government to acquire ownership stakes in major artificial intelligence companies, describing the arrangement as a potential "partnership with the American people."

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he plans to meet with executives from the nation's largest AI firms as early as next week to discuss the government taking equity positions in their companies. The president indicated he has already spoken with these executives about the concept.

How the Plan Would Work

According to reporting by NOTUS, which first detailed the discussions, senior Trump administration officials have been in talks with technology executives including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who initially pitched the idea to Trump in early 2025. The conversations have centered on companies voluntarily transferring shares to the government, with investment returns potentially directed toward public purposes such as dividend payments to American households.

Significant questions remain unanswered, including the legal mechanism by which the government could compel equity transfers and the size of ownership stakes under consideration. Trump told reporters the American public would "benefit from the success of AI" through this arrangement.

Why It Matters

This proposal represents a dramatic expansion of government intervention in private enterprise, particularly for a Republican administration. If implemented, federal equity stakes in AI companies could reshape the relationship between Silicon Valley and Washington at a moment when artificial intelligence is transforming the economy and raising widespread concerns about job displacement and societal impact. The plan also creates unusual political alignment, with Trump embracing a concept that overlaps with proposals from Democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Broader Pattern of Government Ownership

The AI equity proposal fits within Trump's second-term pattern of direct federal investment in industries he considers strategically critical. His administration has already secured a 10% stake in Intel, acquired shares in metals and minerals producers, and obtained a "golden share" in U.S. Steel Corporation that grants the government influence over certain corporate decisions.

This approach marks a sharp departure from the traditionally hands-off Republican stance on government involvement in private business.

Political Convergence

Sen. Bernie Sanders plans to introduce legislation seeking 50% government ownership of major AI companies—enough to give the government effective control. His proposal would impose a one-time 50% tax on company stocks to achieve this ownership level, as he outlined in a June 1 New York Times op-ed.

When asked about Sanders's plan, Trump said he had been discussing similar concepts for the past year and noted that some Sanders supporters from the 2016 Democratic primary later backed him. "As far as economics is concerned, we have some things that aren't that far apart," Trump said.

Trump also signed an executive order this week requesting that AI developers voluntarily submit their models to the federal government for cybersecurity review, reflecting growing government attention to the technology's rapid expansion and its effects on labor markets and society.

These details were first reported by USA Today.