Trump Proposes Public Stake in AI Companies, Stocks Rally

Trump Floats AI Equity-Sharing Plan

President Donald Trump revealed Friday that his administration is considering a proposal that would give the American public an ownership stake in major artificial intelligence companies, a move that sent AI-related stocks climbing in early Monday trading.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump described the concept as a partnership arrangement in which "the federal government essentially becomes a partner with the companies." He indicated that executives from leading AI labs including OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI would visit the White House as soon as next week to discuss the proposal further.

The announcement followed reporting by digital outlet NOTUS that senior administration officials had already begun preliminary discussions with AI companies about potential government equity purchases.

Market Response and Industry Impact

Investors responded positively to the news. By early Monday premarket trading, Nvidia shares gained more than 1%, while chipmakers Marvell and Micron surged between 4% and 7%. AMD and Intel each added more than 1%, though Google declined 1.2%.

The timing is significant as several major AI companies prepare for public offerings. Anthropic, SpaceX, and OpenAI are all expected to debut on Wall Street in coming months, with analysts projecting trillion-dollar valuations for each.

Why it matters

This proposal represents a fundamental shift in how the U.S. government might engage with transformative technology companies. If implemented, it could establish a precedent for public ownership of AI infrastructure while addressing growing concerns about concentrated wealth creation in the sector. The approach also reflects the administration's struggle to balance innovation incentives against regulatory oversight in the global AI race with China.

Political Context and Regulatory Uncertainty

Trump acknowledged that the idea gained momentum after Senator Bernie Sanders proposed legislation imposing a 50% tax on AI company stock, with proceeds funding a sovereign wealth fund. Sanders argued the measure "would guarantee that the trillions created by AI are used to improve the lives of all of us," though the proposal drew sharp criticism from tech industry figures including Trump adviser David Sacks.

The president noted Sanders' proposal had resonated with some of his own supporters and suggested government participation could help address public anxiety about artificial intelligence.

The Trump administration has already taken equity positions in several technology companies, acquiring stakes in chipmaker Intel and firms focused on rare earth minerals and quantum computing.

Regulatory Approach Remains Unsettled

The administration's AI policy continues to evolve. The White House abruptly canceled a signing ceremony for an AI executive order scheduled for May 21, reportedly after pushback from the technology industry. Trump later signed a revised version requesting that AI developers voluntarily submit their most advanced models for government cybersecurity testing before public release.

Trump said he opposed certain provisions in the original order and wanted to avoid steps that might disadvantage the U.S. in its AI competition with China.

These details were first reported by Investing.com based on Trump's comments to reporters.