Trump Administration Discusses Taking Equity Stake in OpenAI

Government Ownership Talks

The administration of President Donald Trump is discussing a potential equity stake in the artificial intelligence company OpenAI. According to reports from CNBC and other sources, discussions between the White House and OpenAI have been ongoing for more than a year.

President Trump stated that he is exploring deals "where the American people can benefit from the success of AI". The proposal involves an arrangement where the U.S. government would hold shares in the AI startup, potentially through shares handed over voluntarily by the company.

Origins and Timeline

The concept was first pitched to the Trump administration in early 2025 by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. A source familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the details, confirmed that these talks have persisted since that time.

Altman revisited the proposal with senior Washington officials and lawmakers this week. These meetings were part of broader discussions concerning the latest developments in artificial intelligence and the current state of AI regulation.

Proposed Public Wealth Fund

The potential equity stake is linked to a proposal by OpenAI to create a "Public Wealth Fund". Under this plan, revenues generated from the government's stake would be distributed directly to citizens. This mechanism is intended to allow individuals to benefit from the growth of AI regardless of their own initial capital.

This approach aligns with the concept of "universal basic capital" (UBC), which involves seeding investment accounts for Americans with equity—potentially focusing on AI companies, though not necessarily—to help citizens build wealth and mitigate the economic impacts of AI-driven job displacement. Bloomberg reported that Trump has supported this idea, emphasizing that American citizens should become partners in these firms.

Broader Context

The discussions reflect a broader interest by the Trump administration in state equity within highly profitable companies. The potential for government ownership in AI giants is described as having "seismic consequences" for the industry.

While the talks have been ongoing, specific details regarding the size of the stake or the exact legal framework for the distribution of funds to citizens have not been publicly finalized.