Trump Plans White House Meeting on US Equity Stakes in AI Firms

President Donald Trump confirmed plans to meet with executives from leading artificial intelligence companies to explore the US government taking equity positions in their operations, according to Reuters.

Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump framed the initiative as creating "almost a partnership with the American public." The meetings are expected to take place at the White House as early as next week, though the president did not specify which companies would attend.

The AI Investment Landscape

The largest US-based AI companies include Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, SpaceX, and Anthropic. SpaceX and Anthropic are both expected to pursue public offerings in the coming weeks, which could influence the timing and structure of any government investment discussions.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman traveled to Washington this week and met with Senator Bernie Sanders, who recently proposed a sovereign wealth fund model that would give the US a 50% stake in AI companies. When asked about Sanders' proposal, Trump said he had been considering government investment in AI firms for a year and did not dismiss the senator's approach, noting "where economics are concerned, we have things that aren't that far apart."

Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, met with senior White House officials several weeks ago. The meeting signals potential easing of tensions despite Anthropic's ongoing lawsuit with the Department of Defense over contract terms that led to the company's removal from government operations. Anthropic publicly praised Trump's recent AI executive order, and co-founder Jack Clark told BBC Newsnight the company maintains "daily conversations with the US government" on national security matters.

Why It Matters

A government equity stake in AI companies would represent a fundamental shift in how the US approaches strategic technology development. Unlike traditional defense contracts or research grants, direct ownership would give taxpayers financial upside from AI breakthroughs while potentially giving policymakers more influence over development priorities. The model could also address concerns about AI safety and national security by aligning private sector incentives with public interest, though it raises questions about government involvement in competitive markets and the appropriate role of federal investment in commercial technology.

Bipartisan Interest in AI Ownership

The convergence of interest from both Trump and progressive Senator Sanders suggests potential bipartisan support for government participation in AI company ownership. This unusual alignment reflects growing recognition that artificial intelligence represents both strategic national importance and significant economic value that could benefit public coffers.

The details were first reported by Reuters correspondents Kali Hays and Lisa Lambert.