Trump considers government stakes in AI companies

Key facts

• President Trump is considering a plan to give the U.S. government direct stakes in leading AI companies.
• The concept aims to make the American public a partner and potentially very wealthy.
• Similar ideas have received support from figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders and companies such as Anthropic and OpenAI.
• Trump indicated he would meet with tech executives in the near future to discuss the proposal.
• The president referenced the government's nearly 10% stake in Intel as an example.

President Trump is reportedly considering a plan that would involve the U.S. government taking direct equity stakes in major artificial intelligence companies. Trump confirmed he is exploring concepts where the public could become partners in these ventures, potentially leading to significant financial gains for Americans. This idea has found surprising alignment with some critics, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, and AI firms like Anthropic and OpenAI, as policymakers and the industry grapple with the immense wealth expected from AI.

Reports surfaced in early June detailing preliminary discussions between the Trump administration and AI companies about such equity arrangements. Trump stated he plans to meet with tech executives soon to discuss the proposal, emphasizing that the goal is to "give back something to the public." He pointed to the government's nearly 10% stake in Intel, acquired last August, as a precedent for this type of investment.

Policy analyst Tad DeHaven of the Cato Institute characterized Trump's approach as transactional, suggesting the president views the world through a dealmaking lens. DeHaven posited that while the White House might cite taxpayer upside and supply chain strengthening as reasons, the underlying motivation could be the president exercising leverage, power, and control.